The Los Angeles Lakers need time to better understand what they can and cannot do in the 2024-25 NBA season.

If this process proves, or at least strongly implies, that the Purple and Gold do not have enough strength to challenge for the title, they may be forced to reconsider their stance on a key contributing player.

That player is fourth-year guard Austin Reaves, perhaps the biggest in-house success story for this front office. They brought him in on a two-way deal as an undrafted player and have since seen him develop into a high-mileage starter who plays one of the most critical roles in this offense.

Now add in the fact that he plays on one of the best non-rookie teams in the league contractsand it’s easy to see why the series enjoys having him around.

They have even described him as “almost untouchable” in past interviews, according to The Athletic. Sam Amick.

There’s a bit of a gray area here, as near-immunity has some leeway. Still, if the Lakers scuttled Reaves trade talks before they even started, that feels like a step too far.

He’s a rock solid piece of support. He can handle and create the ball, but he is also comfortable (and talented) and adds value to the offense off the ball. He takes smart shots and makes smart cuts. Competing on defense.

He is the type of player that any contestant can take on in a complementary role.

So what happens if LeBron James and Anthony Davis need more help? Is there really another level the 26-year-old Reaves can reach?

This sounds pretty optimistic. He showed his best basketball at the beginning of this season. Contributions of 16.8 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game are nothing to sneeze at, especially coming from a player who shot 52.5 percent from the field and 44.8 percent from three-point range.

Then we look again at a five-game sample. And two of those five games weren’t great. That doesn’t mean it’s impossible for him to continue this production, but it’s too early to tell.

This volume looks the part; He averaged 15.9 points, 5.5 assists and 4.3 rebounds last season, but efficiency may be a bit exaggerated. Either way, we’re talking about a really good role player with an excellent contract.

The Lakers would be smart to ask a lot of money for him. They would also be foolish to dismiss the idea of ​​a Reaves deal outright. They may need a significant upgrade at some point, and he is their best hope for making that type of trade.

Los Angeles has other commercial assets, but they may not be as coveted as people think. As Amick reported, a package built around D’Angelo Russell and “multiple first-round picks” would not interest the Utah Jazz in signing Walker Kessler.

Assuming this isn’t a bluff (which sounds like more than enough for an inside big man), it’s not a very encouraging perspective on how the market views the Lakers’ collection of assets. So if they really want to move the needle, they may have to swing Reaves. (Whatever the theoretical value of Jalen Hood-Schifino’s 2023 first-round pick is, it’s likely out the window for the club decreasing third year option.)

They’ll need Reaves to make any big deal happen, but that only makes sense if it’s a trade of this size. He’s one of the Union’s best support players, so sending him to another top role player wouldn’t do any good.

But if you put a legitimate star on the table, Los Angeles’ “untouchable” role player should be plenty touchable.