Could Austin Reaves Be the Missing Piece for the Pistons? A BR Trade Mock Breakdown

**

The Trade That Makes Sense (On Paper)

Let me be clear upfront: this isn’t just another “what-if” fantasy. Bleacher Report’s 2025 mock trade has me leaning forward in my chair. The Pistons get Austin Reaves; the Lakers walk away with Jalen DuRan, Simone Fontecchio, and a 2025 second-round pick. On first glance, it feels like a win-win—especially if you’re rooting for both teams’ long-term rebuilds.

But as someone who spends weekends analyzing player movement through Python scripts and heat maps, I don’t buy into hype without evidence. So let’s run the numbers.

Why Reaves Fits in Detroit

Reaves averages 16+ PPG across his three playoff runs—an impressive stat when you consider how many players fade under postseason pressure. And here’s where it gets juicy: during their playoff exit to New York, no Piston other than Cade Cunningham scored more than 16 PPG on average.

That tells you something about spacing and shot creation. Add in that Reaves shoots 38% from deep on over six attempts per game—even in high-leverage moments—and suddenly he becomes less of an option and more of an engine.

The Pistons have Oshae Brissett and Ron Holland II—great athletes but not reliable catch-and-shoot threats. Reaves? He’s designed to thrive alongside elite ball-handlers like Cunningham while also carrying offense when needed.

What Do the Lakers Get?

Now let’s flip the script. Why would L.A., who just won a title with Reaves as their glue guy, trade him?

Enter Jalen DuRan—a player overlooked by many but watched closely by scouts like me since his breakout season at Michigan State. His verticality is elite (47-inch max jump), and his passing vision off screens is underrated—think of him as a human pick-and-roll chess piece.

Plus, Fontecchio was once a 40% three-point shooter (134 made) in 2023-24—a fact too often buried under his inconsistent role last year.

So yes—the Lakers aren’t getting pure production here—but they’re getting developmental upside with low-risk assets that fit their system perfectly: rim-runners who can space floors via passing or shooting when healthy.

The Hidden Risk: Health & Fit

And now comes my favorite part—not just what works on paper, but what could go wrong.

Reaves’ recent playoff struggles were real—he had four games below 50% FG efficiency against top-tier defenses. That said… so did everyone else except Giannis.

Still: Can he stay healthy? Can he handle being THE guy after Cunningham goes down? Will he co-exist with Jerami Grant or future free-agent signings like Malik Beasley?

These aren’t rhetorical questions—they’re data points we’ll track starting next season.

even better—if this deal happens before training camp, we’ll see how much trust Coach Casey puts into offensive continuity versus relying solely on raw athleticism.

Final Verdict: A Smart Bet for Both Sides?

In short: yes—with caveats. The Pistons gain immediate scoring reliability and floor-spacing depth at guard—exactly what they need to close out tough series against Eastern Conference contenders like Boston or Miami. The Lakers gain two versatile pieces who can plug into any lineup without disrupting culture or salary structure—ideal for their cap flexibility moving forward. The only question left? Who wins more long-term: a team chasing glory now—or one building quietly toward it?

I’ll take my chances on data over drama—and honestly? I’m already running simulations in Excel to test this scenario myself.