That possibility has naturally led to speculations about trading their most valuable and movable asset - Austin Reaves, who has clearly entered the prime of his career. But considering how AR has become a fan favorite, DeMarcus Cousins has made it clear that he has no interest in entertaining talk of the Lakers moving such a key figure.

Reaves rejected the Detroit Pistons in the 2021 draft to ensure he would wind up with the Lakers — he went undrafted and signed a two-way deal with the purple and gold. He worked his way up to the roster, then to the rotation and later cracked the starting lineup.

According to Sam Amick, the Lakers remain fully committed to Reaves, with ownership and the front office aligned on his importance to the franchise. The same cannot be said for Deandre Ayton, who is reportedly not viewed as part of the Lakers’ long-term plans as the organization evaluates its next steps ( via Jake Fischer ).

LeBron James and Luka Doncic scored 30 points each while Deandre Ayton posted a double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Their effort was ultimately enough to thwart New Orleans who were in control for most of the game, behind a stellar performance from Trey Murphy III (42 points).