Lakers hesitant to trade Austin Reaves in potential Dejounte Murray deal?

Dec 13, 2022; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15) warms up prior to the game against the Boston Celtics at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

The Los Angeles Lakers may be pricing themselves out of the Dejounte Murray trade market.

The Atlanta Hawks are reportedly “ready” to trade Murray and have been in communication with the Lakers on a potential deal.

Austin Reaves, however, is reportedly off the trade negotiating table. According to LA Times’ Dan Woike, there have been “no discussions” that have involved Reaves, as the Lakers have “shown no interest” in trading their young guard.

The report adds that the Hawks previously explored a Murray trade with the New York Knicks for a package of Immanuel Quickley and a first-round pick.

Reaves is inarguably the Lakers’ most valuable young trade chip. Given the team’s lack of draft capital, including Reaves in a deal appears to be the logical prerequisite to getting Murray in a purple and gold uniform.

Reaves is still just 25 years old and in the first year of a team-friendly contract. He also has chemistry with both LeBron James and Anthony Davis — a feat that hasn’t been achieved by many of the team’s supporting cast members over the years.

Trading Reaves for Murray appears to be a gamble that the Lakers are not willing to take.