Lakers Get Key Boost: Austin Reaves Nearing Return Before Tough Road Trip

The Los Angeles Lakers are poised to receive a much-needed boost as guard Austin Reaves moves closer to returning from injury, head coach JJ Redick revealed Tuesday ahead of the team’s eight-game road trip opener against the Denver Nuggets. Redick said Reaves is “progressing well” in his recovery from a left calf strain and is expected to return at some point during the trip, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. “JJ Redick says Austin Reaves is ‘progressing well’ and will return to the lineup sometime during the Lakers’ eight-game road trip,” McMenamin wrote on X. “Some good news for the Lakers, who have been without Reaves because of a left calf strain since Christmas.” Lakers Eye Austin Reaves’ Return During Brutal Road Stretch The timing is significant. After opening the trip in Denver, the Lakers face one of the most demanding stretches of their season, with games against the Clippers (Jan. 22), Mavericks (Jan. 24), Bulls (Jan. 26), Cavaliers (Jan. 28), Wizards (Jan. 30), Knicks (Feb. 1), and Nets (Feb. 3). Reaves is expected to return in one of those contests, offering Redick a potential stabilizing presence as Los Angeles navigates elite competition across both conferences. Calf Strain That Halted a Breakout Run Reaves has not played since suffering a Grade 2 strain in his left calf during the Lakers’ Christmas Day loss to the Houston Rockets. The injury followed an earlier calf issue that had already sidelined him for several games in mid-December, raising concern about recurrence. Before the setback, Reaves was enjoying the most productive stretch of his career. He was averaging career highs of 26.6 points, 6.3 assists, and 5.2 rebounds per game, emerging as a primary offensive option alongside LeBron James and Luka Dončić. His absence has been felt on both ends of the floor as the Lakers slid to sixth in the Western Conference with a 25-16 record after reaching as high as the No. 2 spot. Reaves’ Breakout Raises Stakes for Lakers’ Future Reaves’ rise has also intensified scrutiny around his long-term future in Los Angeles. Last summer, the 26-year-old declined a four-year, $89.2 million contract extension and is widely expected to opt out of his $14.9 million player option after the season. Under NBA rules, only the Lakers can offer Reaves a five-year maximum deal, projected to be worth $240.7 million, according to Bleacher Report’s Dan Favale. Other teams are limited to four years and $178.5 million. That contract context has made Reaves a frequent subject of leaguewide speculation — and, briefly, internal tension. Klutch Sports Trade Talk Sparks Rare Agent Confrontation Earlier this month, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul — the longtime agent of James — floated a hypothetical trade scenario involving Reaves during an appearance on The Ringer’s Game Over podcast. “If I was the Lakers, I’d probably be targeting the Memphis Grizzlies as a trade partner for Jaren Jackson,” Paul said. “You’ve got to figure out the package. Someway, somehow, I’d be trying to get Jaren Jackson and maybe get back GG Jackson.” Paul framed the idea as strictly theoretical, but the reaction inside the Lakers’ ecosystem was swift. According to McMenamin, one of Reaves’ agents, Reggie Berry of AMR Agency, approached Paul near half court at halftime of the Lakers’ game against the Atlanta Hawks. The two spoke for more than five minutes, addressing Paul’s public comments about Reaves’ future. “The topic of conversation was Paul’s public trade scenario regarding Reaves,” McMenamin reported, citing sources. The exchange marked a rare public moment of friction among high-profile representatives and underscored how sensitive Reaves’ standing has become within the organization. Rich Paul Walks Back Comments on Austin Reaves Paul later clarified and walked back his remarks, emphasizing that the conversation was never intended as a prediction. “My guy Reggie, who is Austin’s agent, we talked,” said Paul after the incident. “I want Austin to know this is not about Austin Reaves because I love the player, love the person.” Paul added that his comments were hypothetical and even complimentary. “This was a conversation of ‘if I was running a team,’ not ‘this is what’s going to happen,’” he said. “I actually believe it’s very complementary to AR because he’s in a team with two future Hall of Famers, and he happens to be the asset.” Lakers Await Return of Key Piece For now, speculation takes a back seat to basketball. With Reaves nearing his return, the Lakers are hopeful his presence can help steady a team facing one of the league’s most unforgiving road stretches. If healthy, Reaves’ reintegration could reshape the Lakers’ rotation — and reassert his central role in a season that has increasingly revolved around his emergence.