Lakers ready to part ways with one of their stars to acquire two unproven Kings players?

The Los Angeles Lakers could be preparing another major roster overhaul. According to multiple sources, the California franchise is seriously considering sending Austin Reaves to the Sacramento Kings in exchange for forward Keegan Murray and guard Keon Ellis. This move would aim to create a more balanced lineup around new superstar Luka Dončić and legend LeBron James.

« There are a lot of rival executives who hold Austin Reaves in high regard. »@ChrisBHaynes weighs in on Reaves exploring free agency after turning down an initial contract offer from Los Angeles 👀 pic.twitter.com/huxXA3wvrJ

— NBA TV (@NBATV) June 30, 2025

On August 2, the Lakers officially launched a new era by signing Dončić to a three-year, $165 million contract extension. With two of the best playmakers in the league on the court, General Manager Rob Pelinka might now look to surround them with versatile talents rather than another ball-dominant guard.

Why Reaves might be packing his bags

Despite an exceptional 2024-2025 season where he posted career-best numbers, Reaves might not be the ideal fit alongside Dončić for a full season. His lack of defensive presence is a liability in this configuration.

Rishav Bhat of ClutchPoints explained the potential interest in Keegan Murray: « Despite Murray being one of the Kings’ most promising young players, he has become a trade candidate as he represents one of the few remaining tradeable assets on their roster. At 24 and with a modest salary of $11.1 million, Murray offers rare potential, solid defense, secondary scoring, and a team-friendly contract. »

The hypothetical trade would see the Lakers receive Murray and Ellis, two players with complementary profiles that would fit perfectly with Dončić and James. Murray (6’8″, 24 years old) averaged 12.4 points and 6.7 rebounds this season, with 0.8 steals and 0.9 blocks per game. His defensive versatility and offensive efficiency could stabilize the Lakers’ attack.

Ellis, an undrafted 6’7″ guard, emerged as one of Sacramento’s surprises in 2024-2025. His 8.3 points per game along with an impressive 43.3% from three-point range and 1.5 steals per game make him an attractive target for Los Angeles. His defensive impact, measured by a Defensive Box Plus-Minus of 2.0, perfectly addresses the Lakers’ needs.

Keon Ellis and Keegan Murray will be Lakers by the end of the off season pic.twitter.com/RY6tzldvNN

— ㄣ️ (@LukaTheBron) August 4, 2025

This transaction would allow the Lakers to significantly improve their defense while maintaining interesting offensive potential. At 24 and 25 years old respectively, Murray and Ellis fit into a long-term approach while being immediately operational to maximize Dončić’s prime years.