Lakers beat reporter analyzes Reeves' potential destinations: Rockets more likely than Spurs, Knicks fit uncertain

On October 13th Beijing time, Reeves is eager for a lucrative contract extension, but the Lakers may not meet his demands. If Reeves leaves the Lakers in the future, which team might become his next destination? Renowned Lakers reporter Buha provided an analysis on this topic.

“I previously reported that the Spurs showed interest in Reeves in the summer of 2023 and almost offered him a contract, but it didn’t materialize. Whether the Rockets are interested depends on their rebuilding strategy—if they replace VanVleet with Reeves and pair him with Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr., Eason, Adams, and other tall, tough players, that might be the best system for Reeves. He could run pick-and-rolls with Sengun and develop chemistry with Thompson.”

“For these two Texas teams, directly signing Reeves might be challenging, so a sign-and-trade deal is possible. About 10 teams in the league have salary cap space (such as the Bulls, Nets, etc.), and some of those teams have shown past interest in Reeves. However, the Spurs already have Fox and Harper, so they don’t necessarily need another guard. Comparatively, the Rockets are a more likely option.”

“As for the Knicks, their fit with Reeves is questionable—mainly on defense: pairing Reeves with Brunson in the backcourt could expose defensive weaknesses, similar to the issue of Reeves playing alongside Trae Young. The Cavaliers’ Mitchell and Garland are another example; two guards with limited defensive skills playing together can cap the team’s defensive ceiling.”

So, if Reeves stays with the Lakers and teams up with Doncic, would there be defensive concerns?

Buha responded: “Playing alongside Doncic is different because Doncic can switch to forward on defense and pair with defensive specialists like Vanderbilt or Smart, which compensates for Reeves’ defensive shortcomings. This has been proven in actual games. So theoretically, the Knicks have a chance, but tactically, it might not be the best fit—especially if they intend to pursue Giannis, Reeves’ role would become even more awkward.”