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"One of those two have to go" - Paul Pierce urges LA Lakers to break up their Big 3
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- "One of those two have to go" - Paul Pierce urges LA Lakers to break up their Big 3
The Los Angeles Lakers have the fourth-best record in the entire NBA, but for Paul Pierce , that alone does not make them an elite team, as they still have many roster holes that will likely keep them out of the title hunt.
The only way to turn things around, according to Pierce, is for the organization to take a more extreme measure.
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"I think you need to try to package (Austin) Reaves for somebody," the Hall of Famer said on "No Fouls Given." " It's either Reaves or Bron, because we're building around Luka Doncic , right? He's our guy. Those three on the perimeter defensively can't get it done in a deep playoff run."
No other way to do it
The Lakers don't pass the eye test defensively. Luka Doncic is too slow to take on the assignment of guarding quicker, smaller guards, and LeBron James ' days of guarding slashing small forwards are long gone.
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But numbers tell an even harsher truth.
The Lakers have the second-worst defensive rating over the last 15 games, only behind the Utah Jazz . During this span, they rank fourth in defending points off turnovers. Moreover, the team allowed opponents to make 37.9 percent of their 3-pointers and over 67 percent of their field goal attempts from less than six feet.
Since the Lakers do not necessarily have a coveted treasure trove of assets and young players, the best thing they could do is trade Austin Reaves or James for someone who fits better. After all, Reaves' skillset overlaps with Doncic, and the organization has made it clear that they are not allocating over $50 million a season anymore for The King.
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The problem is that it would be objectively challenging for the Lakers to execute such trades. No team will be interested in a package involving Rui Hachimura , Jarred Vanderbilt , or Gabe Vincent , so they would have to sweeten the pot just to stir interest.
"You cannot get a good big for the rest of those pieces. One of those two have to go for them to be a contender," Pierce said.
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Pulling a rabbit out of their hat?
James has a no-trade clause, so he is not going anywhere unless he wants to. That makes Reaves the franchise's most workable asset in trade conversations. He has shown flashes of first-option quality, something that most teams lack.
For Pierce, that's exactly how the Lakers should sell Reaves. They must do their due diligence by checking out the teams that have been struggling and aching to make a move. The Boston Celtics legend mentioned the Cleveland Cavaliers or the New Orleans Pelicans , two underachieving squads that may have the pieces the Lakers covet.
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"You gotta look at the teams that's not doing well that need to make a move," Pierce suggests.
In any case, L.A. is unlikely to make a trade that would set the team back for the foreseeable future. They could simply let James' contract expire and offer a near-max contract to Reaves in the offseason, and then solve their depth issues with the money left.
But then again, that means another season of missing out on the June festivities for the league's most popular franchise. If the Lakers want to avoid that scenario, they need to prioritize immediate fixes against long-term flexibility , something that Rob Pelinka has always been willing to do.
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This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Jan 5, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
