Ahead of the Los Angeles Lakers' first full season of LeBron James and Luka Doncic, would they consider making a deal with the Houston Rockets amid Fred VanVleet's ACL injury? 2025-26 could be James' final year with the Lakers. NBA insider Zach Lowe floated the potential trade idea in the wake of and VanVleet potentially missing the season.
Lowe mentioned Lakers guard Austin Reeves as a trade target for the Rockets, but what would the Lakers receive in return? It's what makes the prospect of the deal intriguing, he said, per the Bill Simmons Podcast.
“What if things just go very badly this season for Austin Reeves with the Lakers? What if it's like you asked me to come off the bench, extension talks, you know, they couldn't really get started because you couldn't offer me enough, but I'm not sure like, do you really value me enough in a Luka world? LeBron is still here,” Lowe said. Is he retiring? If he's retiring, is that good for my future in LA?
“I'm just saying, like, there's a world in which it goes, I don't think this is going to happen, but it's a name that popped into my head.”
The Rockets could utilize Reaves through the offense in a manner that resembles Tyler Herro and the Miami Heat, Simmons noted.
“So, you're running some offense through him, not as a point guard, but as like a ball, almost like how you use Herro,” Simmons said.
Zach Lowe agreed with that comparison while the Rockets lose their top facilitator in Fred VanVleet.
“Yeah, he can do that,” Lowe said.
How the Lakers fare throughout the beginning of the regular season should most likely dictate the front office's moves in 2025-26.
Rich Paul urges people to appreciate Lakers, LeBron James' present
Lakers All-Star LeBron James is entering the final year of his contract. Ahead of his 23rd NBA season, many wonder if the Lakers will eventually trade Austin Reaves to help bolster James' supporting cast. LeBron's agent urged everyone to appreciate the present instead of trying to guess his client's future, he said via ESPN's Shams Charania.
“Seeing how this year plays out, it's clear he's not sure whether he has one year left. Does he have another season after that, 2026-27? I did speak to his agent, Rich Paul, at Klutch Sports today. And he told me it's important not to worry about the future when it comes to LeBron James,” Charania said. “Just appreciate the present and also maximizing his present. And that, obviously, that onus, potentially falling on the Lakers, and what team they put around him.”
"It's important not to worry about the future when it comes to LeBron James. Just appreciate the present"
Shams Charania on what Rich Paul has told him about LeBron James 😳
(via @ESPNNBA)pic.twitter.com/QgeyiXr1zG
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) September 22, 2025
The Lakers will begin training camp soon.
