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Is trading Austin Reaves for Damian Lillard worth the risk for the Lakers' future success?

Heavyweights of the West, Lakers, and Nuggets will take on each other. Both these teams are coming off a defeat. After losing to the Orlando Magic by one point, Lakers’ spirits is down for sure. But there is no time for grief. You have to suit up again against the Joker and his men. Nikola Jokic has returned, but his presence could not save the Nuggets in their previous game. And now, it’s time to recapture the momentum with a win. Which team will make it?

Max Christie, the Lakers’ shooting guard, has said that the team is “bummed out” after their loss. “We don’t want to dwell on Orlando. So we turned the page and we’re ready to go tonight,” he added. Looks like they’ll take out all their frustration over the Nuggets. They seem ready.

Further solidifying their claims was Rui Hachimura, who thinks it’s a “great test” for them. “Tonight, we have to show what we’ve been working on. I think our chemistry is way better than before. So I think it’s going to be a good test for us of how we’ve improved.” We’ll be waiting to see the improved Lakers on court tonight. The 6-foot-8 forward will be returning tonight after missing 4 games due to an ankle injury. He’ll be excited to show us the new “chemistry” he has been talking about.

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It looks like the Lakers aren’t satisfied with just 2 superstars. There are some rumors about the Lakers wanting another superstar to slot in with LeBron James and Anthony Davis. A super team could be in the works. Are they going to Milwaukee Bucks for that?

Will the Los Angeles Lakers make Milwaukee Bucks an offer they can’t refuse?

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What’s your perspective on:

Is trading Austin Reaves for Damian Lillard worth the risk for the Lakers' future success?

Have an interesting take?

Lakers GM Rob Pelinka is staring down a high-stakes decision as trade rumors swirl ahead of February. If he’s aiming for a third star to join LeBron and Davis, Trae Young could be the ideal target. The best part? Adding Young might not cost the Lakers their breakout star, Austin Reaves, who’s been pivotal to their recent success.

There’s also another route Pelinka could take, one with a more familiar name. Damian Lillard, now with the Milwaukee Bucks, has long been linked to LeBron in trade chatter. But there’s a twist: getting Lillard likely means parting ways with Reaves—a decision that could reshape the Lakers’ chemistry.

Fadeaway World’s Fran Leiva outlined what a blockbuster trade for Lillard might look like. The proposed deal sends Reaves to Milwaukee alongside D’Angelo Russell (on an expiring contract), Jarred Vanderbilt, Max Christie, Cam Reddish, Maxwell Lewis, and two first-round picks in 2029 and 2031. The Lakers’ interest in Lillard isn’t new—it feels like every offseason, his name is whispered in the same sentence as LeBron’s.

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USA Today via Reuters

Lillard’s contract adds another layer of intrigue. His max extension kicks in next season, with a hefty $58.5 million player option for 2026-27. It’s a gamble for Pelinka, balancing championship hopes with a potential financial crunch down the line. Moves like this are what make being a Lakers fan feel like a soap opera. Could Pelinka pull off another ‘Hollywood ending’, or is this too risky even by LA standards?

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