Reeves value has come back again! He and two draft picks are listed as the Lakers top trading assets

According to US sports media F/W analyst Siddhant Gupta, the Lakers seem to be in excellent shape at the start of this season. With the backcourt combination of Reeves and Doncic going all out, the Lakers maintain a 7-2 record and have won five consecutive games even in the absence of James. One of the main reasons for the team's recent success is the rise of Reeves. The Lakers can only benefit from his growth as the 27-year-old establishes himself as a solid partner next to Doncic. However, the Lakers' plans to compete for the championship have not changed. Given their propensity to trigger the necessary trades to bring in the right pieces, Los Angeles may be looking to capitalize on some of its key assets.

With trades emerging as a potential way to improve the roster, B/R's Dan Favale ranks the Lakers' top trade assets this season. Reaves is first, followed by a 2031 first-round pick and a 2032 first-round pick swap. Favar defended Reeves' stance, stating: "Listing Reeves as an asset is not a problem because he will be a free agent (player option) next summer. It is difficult because the Lakers may have a hard time upgrading from him. At this rate, James is more likely to be on the board next time." Along with Reeves, Favar also mentioned the 2031 first-round pick and the 2032 first-round pick swap, which are valuable trade assets.

When talking about the 2032 draft pick swap, he said that players like Hachimura and Knecht may also compete for a spot on the roster. The Hachimura Fortress has considerable value as a trading asset. Given that he's on an expiring contract, the forward is bound to attract some interest on the trade market. Add to that the 16.9 points and 4.1 rebounds he's averaging this season on 59.3 percent shooting from the field and 45.5 percent from 3-point range, and the 27-year-old is positioned as a reliable receiver. Knecht could draw interest as a young player with shooting upside. But given recent reports of his trade value, he may not rank as high as Hachimura or a 2032 draft pick.

While the team has plenty of reasons to be enamored with Reeves' performance, it's hard to ignore the upcoming challenges to his contract. Considering the defender's performance at the start of the season, it's hard to underestimate how deserving he is of a bigger contract. Considering he averaged 31.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 9.3 assists while shooting 48.9% overall and 34.4% from three-point range, losing the 27-year-old could hurt the team in the future.

Some sources claim that the Lakers can't win with Reeves as the team's primary scoring option. But in the absence of Doncic and James, the guard effectively led the Purple and Gold to victory, highlighting his ability to produce wins in the unlikeliest of situations. While it could be beneficial to package Reaves with some expiring contracts and draft assets to bring in a superstar, it could also backfire. With Reeves and Doncic developing a unique chemistry, the duo could be considered one of the best backcourts in the league. Breaking that streak in pursuit of a bigger name may not do the Lakers any good in the long run. Overall, given how well the team is shaping up with Reeves as the catalyst, the Lakers are not recommending trading the guard at this time.