NFL
By: Mark T. Wilson
The Los Angeles Lakers are willing to bet the house on Austin Reaves this summer. According to reports, the Lakers will match any offer sheet presented to Reaves up to $100M. Wow!!! That’s a lot of money they’re willing to shell out for a player who had a hot streak. Yes, I said it– a hot streak.
How long has Austin Reaves been in the NBA? Reaves just completed his second season in the NBA (both with the Lakers). Yes, you read that correctly, just his second season total. And already, the Lakers are willing to give him the stamp of approval. Now, we cannot deny how important he was to the Lakers’ run this season and during the playoffs, but was he $100M good? And more importantly, can he continue to be that good when LeBron James and Anthony Davis are gone?
That’s the main question here. Can Reaves be counted on to carry a team on his shoulders like other stars who make that type of bank? In the grand scheme of things, that’s what the Lakers are paying him to do. James is inching closer to 40 and Davis is an injury away from riding the pine and he’s not getting any younger himself. the lakers must regroup with young talent and by the looks of things, their top priority is keeping Austin Reaves in purple and gold.
Should The Lakers Pay Austin Reaves
Seems like a smart move and one that any team will make. But $100M? Is Reaves worth that much? This could easily turn out to be like the Miami Heat and Duncan Robinson. Remember his so-called breakout season in 2020? The Heat was so high on him that they inked him to a 5-year $90M deal and all Duncan has done is watch Tyler Herro, Caleb Martin, and Max Strus take his minutes and shine while his numbers have declined the past 2 seasons.
How much is Austin Reaves’ salary now? In 2023, Reaves brought home $1.5M. But he’s due a raise. With Reaves, the Lakers must know something that we all don’t. For the season, Reaves averaged 13.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 3.4 assists while shooting .529 percent from the floor in 28.8 minutes of action to go along with 22 starts in 64 games. Where does that scream $100M?
Now, if they do match any offer, are the Lakers sure that Reaves will grow into that face of the franchise guy? It’s one thing to play off James, Davis, Russell Westbrook, and D’Angelo Russell, but it’s something entirely different to have Jarred Vanderbilt, Rui Hachimura, and others play off you.
Tying the future and a ton of money to an unproven player is a huge risk. But it’s one that the Los Angeles Lakers are desperate to do. James is approaching 40. He’s been hobbled the last few years and so has Davis. The Lakers are bare on draft picks and key free agents have left them in the dust lately for better destinations.
Right now, Austin Reaves is a hot draw. And why wouldn’t he be? Because of him, the Lakers had a chance in the playoffs. But are his scoring and playmaking outbursts worth so much? This could be one deal where the Lakers may need to let a player walk or ask him for a hometown discount. There is also a possibility that Reaves could turn into something special and this contract could turn out to be a steal in 2 years. No one knows and that right there is a huge problem. It’s a guessing game at this point.
