The Lakers were in deep trouble in mid-season, unable to find a streak. The Purple and Gold brigade had a terrible start to the season, as they won only two out of the first twelve games. They were very injury-prone and had a lack of balance in their roster. The Lakers needed a major upgrade to their squad to change the luck. They got it back in February.
However, the player that has caught significant attention has been part of the Lakers since 2021. Austin Reaves is playing in his second season in NBA. The fans already had a lot of faith in LeBron James, Anthony Davis as well as D’Angelo Russell. For Russell, the story started with the Lakers back in 2015, but later, he moved to different teams, and lastly, he played for the Timberwolves from 2020 to 2023. Hence, fans were aware of what Russell could do.
Will The Lakers Extend Austin’s Contract?
But Austin Reaves, in his 2nd NBA season, had been a major discovery. He played college basketball in Witchita as well as in Oklahoma. But since he joined the Lakers in 2021, Reaves has seen challenging days with the franchise. However, this season Reaves made sure to contribute more than he was asked for. Austin Reaves is averaging 17.6 ppg, 5.5 apg, and shooting 44.3% three-pointers. Austin’s impactful performances for the last couple of months have increased the number of fans in Los Angeles.
The Lakers fans will hope Reaves stays with them for a long time. Even Austin Reaves spoke to Shams Charania of The Athletic, and he said, “I would love to be a Laker for my whole career.” But after the season is over, that desire can find a big challenge. Austin Reaves is supposed to be a free agent, and to keep him, the Lakers are ready to pay him $50 million. However, Shams Charania suggests that there will be other teams too interested in signing Reaves. They may even want to pay $60 million or more. That is when things get a lot more tricky.
What If Austin Actually Stays With The Purple And Gold?
Austin Reaves has clearly expressed his desire to stay with the Lakers. Hence, now the ball is on the Lakers’ court. Jeanie Buss, the owner of the franchise, likes Austin and would like to keep him at the Lakers as long as possible. But is the Buss family willing to pay more than 60 million dollars to extend Austin’s contract? If the other interested teams offer beyond $60 million, the LA side may not be able to match that. However, Austin Reaves mentioned that he has always been a Lakers fan and a Kobe Bryant fan. He is glad to be a part of the special franchise.
If the Lakers manage to keep him, then they will try to build future rosters centering around Reaves and Russell after the James-Davis era ends. But the eyes are on the off-season contract extensions or becoming free agents. Reaves and the LA side are currently focusing on their play-in challenge against the Timberwolves. Charles Barkley predicts that if the Los Angeles franchise overcomes the Minnesota challenge, then they might face the Memphis challenge in the playoffs. Barkley bets on the Lakers if they meet the Grizzlies in the playoffs.
