As the second round ticks closer, the Milwaukee Bucks are focused on making the best pick possible at no. 47, or possibly trading up to get into the 30s. What if they tried for something bigger, though?
The NBA world received an intriguing, albeit anticipated contract update this afternoon. With two years and $28.8 million left on his current deal, Lakers guard Austin Reaves has reportedly declined the team’s offer of a four-year, $90 million max extension. There are already questions about his long-term fit alongside Luka Doncic, another non-athletic, defensively challenged backcourt player. Are the Lakers prepared to offer him more, or are they open to bailing on him when, from a contract perspective, his value is at its highest? The Bucks might have zero business butting in, but it’s worth a phone call. One admittedly optimistic trade proposal follows in the paragraphs below.
Why Austin Reaves Fits Milwaukee Bucks as Short-Term Commitment
If Reaves is looking for a massive contract, the Bucks would have no desire to re-sign him after any hypothetical deal. The thing about Reaves: he’s a great role player and a solid third option, but he isn’t the type of star you tie up your franchise for. Granted, as contracts continue climbing, he might be worth more than the four years and $90M. How much more he wants is the key consideration.
Let’s assume that he elects free agency in two years. The Bucks could still benefit from his presence in the short term, especially next season, when he would alleviate Damian Lillard’s absence. Reaves looked awful in the playoffs, but he’s had some impressive stretches stepping up when Lakers stars are sidelined. In 2024-25 overall, he averaged 20.2 points and 5.8 assists while shooting 37.7% on threes. Those numbers might be artificially boosted by absences from LeBron James, Anthony Davis and later Luka Doncic, but still, Reaves took another considerable step in year four.
Despite his defensive limitations – having both him and Lillard on the floor would present its share of problems – he is a legitimate third or even second option that the Bucks badly need. The fact that he has a second season under contract, pairing him up with Dame for a full season, is any case a positive rather than negative factor.
Moreover, unlike Reaves, other trade targets are on expiring deals – Utah’s Collin Sexton comes to mind. Reaves offers multiple years of production while also being financially attainable; he wouldn’t drag down the books or make other moves impossible.
The main question, then, and the one that makes his acquisition unlikely, is whether the Bucks have a viable package to get him. They need to prioritize retaining those 2031 and 2032 firsts.
Any Reaves deal would almost certainly involve a first-round pick. Nick Wright of Fox Sports 1 has put his value at three firsts, which frankly feels way too high. He’s a guard who can score, a cone on defense. There’s value there, value worth pursuing, but his is also a fairly common player type. How different is Reaves from a guy like Jordan Poole?
The following three-team trade (Bucks, Lakers, Warriors) is quite likely something of a fantasy, with some revision required regarding which picks go where, but here it is, anyway, predicated on the fact that Reaves’ value takes a hit when he’s made known that he expects a major bag next signing period. Essentially, he’s a two-year rental.
Bucks get: Austin Reaves
Lakers get: Pat Connaughton, Brandin Podziemski, Jonathan Kuminga (sign-and-trade), Milwaukee’s 2031 first-round pick (lottery protected), Golden State’s 2025 second-rounder (no. 41)
Warriors get: AJ Green, Rui Hachimura, Milwaukee’s 2025 second-rounder, Lakers’ 2031 first-round pick swap, Lakers’ 2025 second-rounder (no. 55)
Edit: the Lakers have traded up from no. 55 to no. 45 in the 2025 draft, per ESPN’s Shams Charania.
The Bucks give up a pair of picks, Connaughton, and Green. The latter is on an expiring contract and is a three-point specialist. He has value though it isn’t great, and his game has room to expand.
The Lakers send out a swap in exchange for Podziemski on a very favorable contract (two years, owed $3.6M next season). He fills Reaves’ absence in the backcourt, and is a better candidate to re-sign. He fits better with Luka as being less ball-dominant. Because they are giving up the best player, the Lakers get the better of Milwaukee’s picks and move up in this year’s second round. Obviously, Kuminga is more talented than Hachimura, with much higher potential, so they don’t end up too shabby despite losing Reaves.
Golden State doesn’t net a huge return for Kuminga, as he fits poorly with their roster and seems likely to leave as a restricted free agent. Getting Hachimura on an expiring deal gives them production at the same position, but no burdensome commitment. Taking in his salary allows the Lakers to absorb Kuminga’s salary; simply signing him in free agency wouldn’t make sense otherwise. Green gives Golden State expert marksmanship, ironically a need for the former home of the Splash Brothers.
The whole thing depends on how much the Lakers would be interested in Kuminga, whether the Warriors would part with Podz, and, of course, whether Los Angeles would care to part with Reaves at all. That might need to percolate for a while. There is also the question of whether draft assets are distributed equitably. Is Reaves sold too low? Is Podziemski, for that matter?
If there’s a way the Bucks can get Reaves without buying too high, it’s a possibility they should at least keep tabs on.
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