The Lakers will only go as far as LeBron James and Anthony Davis take them, but Austin Reaves is clearly a huge part of what they do and his recent emergence offensively has provided a major boost for his team ahead of the NBA playoffs.
Unfortunately, Reaves will be a restricted free agent this summer which means teams will be free to offer him a contract of their choosing and the latest report from Lakers insider Jovan Buha of The Athletic says Reaves will receive multiple different offers.
Austin Reaves is expected to have multiple offers in free agency this summer, per @jovanbuha
But he’s an RFA, the Lakers can match any offer. pic.twitter.com/zee7IaXj6W
— NBA Retweet (@RTNBA) March 23, 2023
Reaves recently moved into the starting lineup after a string of impressive performances. He followed it up with a stat line of 25 points and 11 assists in Wednesday’s 122-111 win over the Suns.
“He’s in a great space right now, feeling his game, just locked into what we’re trying to accomplish,” said Lakers coach Darvin Ham of Reaves. “And I just felt like it made all sense in the world (to start him)… he was locked in and ready,” Ham said. “Came off the bench and hit two big threes for us and competed. That’s what we need, man.”
For the season, Reaves is averaging 12.3 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists per game on 52% shooting. But is Reaves’ explosion really enough to power the Lakers to a deep playoff run?
Lakers Future In Jeopardy
This season has been a tough one for the Lakeshow, and they are clinging to the 10th seed as they await LeBron’s return. But no matter what happens this season, there is uncertainty about what lies beyond.
If the Lakers decide to make moves and spend their cap, they may not be able to retain Reaves if he gets offered a monster contract. Put that with questions about LeBron, Anthony Davis, and D’Angelo Russell, and it’s clear that this summer is going to be a pivotal one for the franchise.
For now, though, the Lakers are going to focus on the task at hand and ensure they do everything they can to extend the season and maximize the talent they have available. Thanks to Reaves, and others, they have a chance to make some noise before it’s too late.
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