Details always matter. Generally, they play a minor role, but for Austin Reaves, it might have saved his LA future. Moving on from the Bronny James issue, the Los Angeles Lakers window to make a trade is closing. The one certainty seems to be that Rob Pelinka wants to improve the roster. But because of his contract decision regarding Reaves, the youthful guard is safe from the purge.

Instead, D’Angelo Russell’s name has been regularly thrown in the mix. He opted into his $18 million player option, which analysts believed to be an indication of an imminent trade. When talking about the trade mills, Trevor Lanes explained how the Lakers are looking to strengthen their defense, which is one of the reasons D’Lo is seen as a candidate for trade. At the same time, Reaves too was a defensive weak point of sorts. Why not him?

“So much of this is contractual. I think D’Lo had a better regular season than Austin did. And Austin did not have a bad regular season. Maybe didn’t reach the lofty expectations that were held for him. But D’Angelo Russell was I think the third-best Laker. If D’Lo had Austin’s contract and Austin had D’Lo’s contract, we probably would be talking about Austin Reaves trades and not D’Angelo Russell trades,” Lane said on the Laker Nation podcast.

Under his four-year contract, there isn’t a single season Reaves will earn more than the former Nets guard. However, Pelinka might have provided a longer contract to the youngster to indicate his inclusion in the franchise’s future. The 28-year-old Russell on the other hand has been fighting trade news since last season.

He is fresh off one of his best regular-season campaigns. Not only did he supply efficient three-point shooting, but D’Lo is also a functional ball handler. A dodgy postseason put dust over his past performances. But don’t think wrong. Russell is a vital component to have for a championship team. In this scenario, the Purple and Gold just seem helpless.

But are they?

Sacrificing a few picks could give the Lakers what they want

What if there was a way to retain D’Angelo Russell for the season while also adding a versatile defender to the Lakers. That is still possible, with a bright candidate waiting for their offer. Jerami Grant of the Portland Trail Blazers has been heavily linked with the 17-time champions over the past few months.

His $29 million salary is expensive but can be matched by the Lakers by sending a package of Hachimura, Vanderbilt, and a low-salary player. But Portland isn’t making it so easy. They are in no desperation to part ways with Grant and aren’t in the range to compete anytime soon. Hence, their priority is the future.

The asking price they have set for Grant includes two first-round picks. It will be a troubling decision, but if the Lakers do attach these picks, they might be able to place themselves well in the West. With Grant, not only do they get another diverse scoring option, but also an upgrade in their defensive sets. Virtually, Grant would replace Hachimura.

Furthermore, with Russell intact, the Lakers won’t lose out on one of their few players who showed out from beyond the arc. This would surround LeBron James will quality spot-up shooters and help the Lakers open up the floor. The question is, will Pelinka choose to safeguard the future or will he take a chance with Russell?