Austin Reaves Could Leave The Lakers If They Don’t Offer Him A Fair Contract

The Lakers are at risk of losing Austin Reaves in the same way they lost Alex Caruso in 2021.

3 Min Read

Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

The Los Angeles Lakers have a fantastic track recent record of unearthing gems in the NBA, with Austin Reaves their latest success story.

Reaves has become an invaluable member of the roster after joining the team as a rookie last season. He will be a free agent in the summer, and Jovan Buha has revealed he wants to stay a Laker. But lowballing Reaves on a contract offer may lead to a departure.

“I think this is a similar situation to DLo in terms of mutual interest on both sides. But also, there are going to be multiple suitors for Reaves. He’s played everything from point guard to small forward. He can defend multiple positions and is a smart, high-IQ basketball player. He was a 50-40-90 guy for the early part of the season. He’s an efficient player and someone that Darvin Ham has referred to as a Swiss Army knife this season. He can play on or off the ball. This is kind of lining up to potentially be another Alex Caruso situation where he wants to be there, and the Lakers want to retain him, but if they try to get a little too cute with the offer or negotiation, I could see him potentially leaving and going somewhere where he’s going to get the full non-taxpayer mid-level exception.” 

The Lakers were in the same situation with Alex Caruso in 2021. They low-balled him, and that led to Caruso leaving for the Chicago Bulls. Given the roster troubles of the last few seasons, the Lakers are likely not going to take Reaves for granted as they did Caruso.


Austin Reaves: A Man In Demand?

So far, no other teams have been reported to have interest in signing Austin Reaves in the summer. That could be due to the larger expectation around the league that the Lakers will be giving him an extension. If he does hit the market, many teams around the league could be interested. LA did go out of their way to ensure Reaves was untouchable in trade packages they prepared this season.

His offensive versatility and gradually improving defense have proven he is an incredible utility player in the league. He may not be regularly dropping 20 points but he does come in for effective stints that keep defenses engaged. Reaves has more than earned a longer stint with the Lakers, but his NBA career is likely going to continue even if the Lakers don’t offer him what he wants.

We sincerely appreciate and respect you as a reader of our site. It would help us a lot if you follow us on Google News because of the latest update.

Thanks for following us. We really appreciate your support.

Newsletter

Stay up to date with our newsletter on the latest news, trends, ranking lists, and evergreen articles

Follow on Google News

Thank you for being a valued reader of Fadeaway World. If you liked this article, please consider following us on Google News. We appreciate your support.

Share This Article
Ishaan Bhattacharya is a content manager for Fadeaway World from New Delhi, India. With his expertise in NBA content creation, Ishaan brings a wealth of experience to his role, contributing to the site's authority and reach within the basketball community. Over the last year, Ishaan has interviewed Ray Allen and Mark Tatum, while also covering the 2023 NBA Abu Dhabi Games which saw the Dallas Mavericks take on the Minnesota Timberwolves.Since joining Fadeaway World in March 2022, Ishaan Bhattacharya has become known for his unique perspective on the NBA. He consistently delivers this insight through his daily news coverage and detailed opinion pieces on the most significant topics in the league.Before his tenure at Fadeaway World, Ishaan worked in corporate communications, where he serviced prominent sports brands, including NBA India, Sports18, Amazon Prime Sports, and Royal Challengers Bangalore. This experience in strategic communications for leading sports entities has enhanced his ability to craft impactful narratives and connect with a global audience.A true MFFLer (Mavs Fan for Life, for the uninitiated), Ishaan is a massive fan of the Dallas Mavericks. When he is not upset about Jalen Brunson walking in free agency, you can see Ishaan as an avid gamer and content creator. His passion for basketball extends beyond the Mavericks, as evidenced by his thoughtfully curated NBA Mount Rushmore, featuring LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bill Russell—each representing distinct eras and bringing their unique qualities to the game.Featured On: ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Bleacher ReportYahoo Sports, NBA, Fox Sports, The Spun
Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *