¿AUSTIN REAVES FOR ANDREW NEMBHARD?

WRITTEN + EDITED BY JORDYN BONTRAGER

There is no sure fire way of forecasting exactly what Rob Pelinka has in mind for next season’s potential Lakers roster, but that will not stop our ongoing curiosity tied to the possible newcomers whom could be en route to Los Angeles.

Whether the front office elects to shoot for the stars (Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kevin Durant, etc.) or aim for less-noteworthy-but-still-noteworthy options (Jaren Jackson Jr, Cameron Johnson, etc), odds are that the opposing party would ask for Austin Reaves in return. After the unreal ascension the world witnessed from AR in ‘24-’25, why wouldn’t they? Rui Hachimura, the team’s second strongest trade chip this summer, undoubtedly has his own level of impact on the game + interest around the league. But Reaves was an All-Star after the All-Star break this season (22.2 PPG x 4.6 RPG x 5.0 APG vs 2.5 TOPG x 1.0 SPG x 0.5 BPG x 48.3% FG x 40.6% 3FG x 90.1% FT across 26 games), and should earn that official designation in ‘25-’26.

Parting with either of Rui or Reaves would be no simple pill to swallow, but shipping out the latter would assuredly be met with much bolder backlash from a fanbase that has become attached to arguably the league’s greatest undrafted player ever. So if Rob Pelinka and his executive friends are forced to feature Reaves in any outbound trade package this offseason, the incoming trade player(s) better offset the opportunity cost.

When you canvas the league for the crop of players worth the price, there are an abundance of big names that come into play. However, there is a much more lowkey name who would be precisely what this franchise should be pursuing as it pertains to Luka’s backcourt running mate of the future.

Just to be clear, the chances of Andrew Nembhard relocating from the Circle City anytime soon are slimmer than a Jim. Chad Buchanan and the Indiana Pacers front office confirmed their commitment to the Canadian combo guard last offseason by inking him to a lucrative 3-year, $59 million extension which keeps him under team control through 2028. Since the moment the ‘Cers selected him with the 31st overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft, the scrappy 6’4”, 191 pound pest has proven himself more than worthy of that aforementioned extension time and time again.

Just 15 games into his rookie year, he welcomed the NBA to his world by coming into Crypto.com Arena and drilling a dagger deep ball at the buzzer. Despite missing out on All-Rookie honors by a single vote, he exuded the type of poised nature you rarely see from a frosh. It became abundantly clear that Nembhard had a place in the league, and he showcased much of the same ‘silent-killer’ qualities during the regular SZN his sophomore year. But it was not until last year’s postseason that fans truly started catching wind of the dogged demeanor that this dude possesses.

His suffocating style of defense at the point of attack was widely acclaimed throughout the 2024 NBA playoffs, most notably while he was making life miserable for Damian Lillard throughout the opening round series upset over Milwaukee. Then, he flashed #1 option potential in the 2 games after Tyrese Haliburton’s injury (28 PPG x 9.5 APG) during the Eastern Conference Finals clash with the Celtics.

Flash forward to the 2024-2025 regular season, and we received yet another dosage of Nembhard’s typical average numbers x above average impact. He earned his first career Eastern Conference Defensive Player of the Month award, and seems fated for multiple All-Defensive acknowledgements looking ahead to what is to come from his future. He has once again turned that regular wave of momentum into a postseason tsunami of success, serving as an indispensable regular within Rick Carlisle’s rotation.

Nembhard rolls his sleeves up and gets after it defensively plus shows absolutely no fear when taking clutch shots. He is a point guard by nature, but has plugged in seamlessly next to Tyrese Haliburton with the Pacers. Still only 25-years-old, just imagine the type of havoc he could wreak playing alongside the Don for the next decade….

This idea may seem far-fetched, but it is nowhere near crazy. IF the Pacers would be crazy enough to part with Andrew Nembhard, he would be arguably the most worthy newcomer spawning from any Lakers deal involving Austin Reaves.