Austin Reaves joined the Los Angeles Lakers just in 2021. But he sure has become an integral part of the side already in his second season in NBA. The Lakers have come a long way to the Western Conference Finals. And undoubtedly, Reaves has helped the side immensely to get to this stage. Apparently, it was a tumultuous situation in the beginning, as the Lakers were 2-10. Many experts lost faith in the team.
They believed the Lakers were not going to make the postseason this time like the previous season. They needed a miracle to turn things around. And that miracle finally happened, as now, the squad has reached the West Finals. Since Austin Reaves has been a very big and important part of the team, he has expressed his strong desire to stay with the Lakers. Even fans don’t want to let AR go. But they are afraid that other teams would poach the young gun. This is because teams like the Rockets and the Spurs are ready to offer him more than $50 million. YES, you read it correctly.
Austin Reaves Might Get Too Expensive For The Lakers To Keep Him In
If the Lakers beat the Nuggets just like the 2020s, then there will be two more series to go before the offseason begins. In the offseason, Austin Reaves, D’Angelo Russell, Rui Hachimura, and others will be free agents. But the kind of match-winning performances these players have been displaying has led the fans to wish for them to stay on the team. Especially Austin Reaves, who is performing better and better every game. The last game against the Warriors, where he did a Steph Curry (a long-range three-pointer), won the hearts of the fans. He scored three points from a 54m distance right before the halftime buzzer, helping the Lakers gain a healthy lead of seven points. Furthermore, AR has won hearts after he stood for LeBron James many times this season.
That is why Shams Charania of The Athletic says that the teams with more cap space, like the Rockets and the Spurs, can be a good landing spot for Reaves. He is not old or very young either, so the Lakers may not offer him more than $50 million. That is why the Lakers will find it hard to keep Austin Reaves. However, he can expect a bigger offer sheet from Houston, San Antonio, and or other teams with bigger cap space. Albeit, it is not a shock as AR has raised his demand with his performances in the last two-three months. He has outstandingly helped the Lakers reach this far as his stock has gone out of hand for the Los Angeles Lakers.
Everything Changed After The February Trades
The Lakers’ luck in the season started changing in February, with the front office making crucial changes. It brought a healthy balance that was missing before in the roster. Even Austin Reaves blended well with D’Angelo Russell and Jarred Vanderbilt, who came in February.
Other than Anthony Davis and LeBron James, these young guns have been real plus points for the Lakers this season. These new recruits are the reasons why the Lakers have reached this stage. But the tension in the front office will begin right after the season gets over.