"It makes more sense" - Pierce shares why the Lakers should trade Austin Reaves for Evan Mobley
Many expected the Los Angeles Lakers to make a big move at the trade deadline to address their issues. However, the deadline came and went, and the only transaction the Lake Show made was acquiring Luke Kennard . While Kennard helps with their 3-point shooting woes, he does not solve their need for a lob threat to complement Luka Doncic and a 3-and-D wing to shore up their struggling defense.
Paul Pierce says that if the Lakers don't go far in the playoffs, their best move would be to dangle Austin Reaves to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Evan Mobley .
"I like the youth of Evan to line up with Luka, long term. He's been an All-Star, and it kinda helps both teams. If you keep Jarrett Allen, you still got a roll with that center. Evan Mobley fits better with Luka as a lob threat, as a pick-and-roll, pick-and-pop guy. And it just makes the most sense," said Pierce.
What better way to solve your defensive woes than to get the DPOY
Pierce only talked about Mobley's offensive fit with Doncic. However, defense is perhaps the Lakers' biggest issue this season, and that's where Evan would be a difference-maker for them.
At the All-Star break, Los Angeles ranks just 23rd overall in the league at 116.6 points per 100 possessions allowed . They are also just 28th in the entire NBA in blocked shots ( 4.0 per game ) and rebounds ( 41.1 per game).
With those issues, Mobley more than makes sense, because what better way to address your defensive woes than to add the reigning NBA Defensive Player of the Year, who has a career individual defensive rating of 109.
The 24-year-old was Cleveland's No.3 overall pick out of USC in 2021. He was an All-Star and an All-NBA second-team selection last season, the same year Evan won the DPOY award. This season, Mobley is averaging 17.9 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game.
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Will the Cavs accept Reaves?
But while a Reaves-Mobley is a good play for the Lakers, it remains to be seen if the Cavs are amenable to taking in AR. That's because, as good as AR has been playing this season, he would be joining a Cleveland team that already has two ball-dominant scorers in Donovan Mitchell and James Harden . So far, Spida and The Beard have been able to share the basketball, and usage has not been an issue.
Harden had a usage rate of 31.4 while playing for the Clippers . That number has dropped to 22.9, so he can mesh with Mitchell's 32.6 . Now, if you add Reaves, whose usage this season is 29.1 , how they work together and how they can maximize each other could be a potential issue.
However, remember that Austin is used to playing with two ball-dominant stars in Luka and LeBron , and he's still been able to produce. Cleveland, though, would be a different setting.
The Lakers are currently 33-21 on the season. They are in 5th place in a tough Western Conference. If the playoffs began today, they would be facing the Houston Rockets in the first round, and even if they get past Kevin Durant 's Rockets, their next opponent would be the No. 1-seeded Thunder.
With the way things are trending right now, they may be headed for an early exit in the playoffs. It will be interesting to see what moves they make this summer.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Feb 17, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
