The Los Angeles Lakers are living a sweet moment in the 2023 NBA Playoffs, and as the end of the season approaches, more questions about the future start looming. This is a team with a lot of players playing on a one-year deal or in the last year of their current contract.
The 2023 free agency will be crucial for the Purple and Gold, and it’s clear that their priority is to keep Austin Reaves on the roster. However, they could lose the young guard on the free market, and the Lakers think that’s a serious possibility.
“The most this postseason goes on, the most Austin Reaves gets on the court and plays and enjoys himself being a top-3, top-4 option on this team. And so, the most the Lakers can offer outright is 4-years, a bit over $50 million, I think it’s $52, $54 million. At this point, that’s gotta be a lot. If you’re Austin Reaves, what can you get out in the marketplace?” Shams Charania reported.
The NBA insider also added that Rivers can get more money in the market, and named a couple of teams that could make a run for Reaves’ services.
“More, more teams around the league with cap space, teams like Houston, San Antonio, you have to look at a guy like that, because he’s not old, he’s not super young, either. He’s kind of that middle-of-the-pack age range guy that’s still enough career-wise that can come in, fit in with your group, be a better leader to some extent, but still grow and develop with your group.”
Chams admits that the Lakers are concerned about this situation, given that they can only offer so much to Reaves this summer.
“There’s a concern for sure, if you’re the Lakers, that he’s gonna get potentially an offer way way higher than $50 million.”
“The most the Lakers can offer outright is 4-years, a bit over $50M… If you’re Austin Reaves, what can you get out in the marketplace?” 💰@ShamsCharania on an impressive Austin Reaves#RunItBack pic.twitter.com/GycbAcRUyR
— FanDuel TV (@FanDuelTV) May 15, 2023
Reaves has found his best version on this Lakers team, as they bet on him and made him the player he’s right now. However, the player surely wants to get paid, and if the Lakers don’t give him the right offer, it’ll be a good choice for him to take a look at the rest of the league and find the most fitting bid.
Austin Reaves Has Drastically Improved His Level This Season
Reaves keeps improving his level this season. He showed flashes of his genius last campaign, but the guard has taken another step forward this year, becoming a solid option for the Lakers. He went from averaging 7.3 PPG to 13.0 PPG, 1.8 APG to 3.4 APG while shooting 45.9% from the field to 52.9%.
He’s shown that he has that dog in him this postseason, not shying away from the challenges. He did it against Memphis and Golden State, confirming he’s a valuable piece for the Lakers.
Things can be very interesting for Reaves this offseason, as he tries to get that bag, which the Lakers can’t give him right now.
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