(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
The Los Angeles Lakers have found a core of players they can build around.
Of course, the No. 1 priority will always be surrounding LeBron James and Anthony Davis with the kind of players they need to thrive, namely shooters and defenders.
Rob Pelinka did a solid job of getting deals done before the trade deadline, while Darvin Ham finally found the right rotations.
And over the past couple of months, Austin Reaves has become one of the biggest contributors to the team, serving as an offensive catalyst whether he’s starting or coming off the bench.
That’s why the Lakers don’t want to make the same mistake they did with Alex Caruso and just let him go in free agency.
Unfortunately, Shams Charania of The Athletic reports that Reaves could be on his way out if his price reaches the $60 or $70 million plateau, as the Lakers might not have enough cap space to get a deal done.
“If it gets to that $60M-$70M range for Austin Reaves, that’s a tough contract for the Lakers to match… he wants to give the Lakers every opportunity to try to get a deal done”@ShamsCharania with his biggest takeaway from convo with Austin Reaves #RunItBack #LakeShow pic.twitter.com/x47DboyKGG
— FanDuel TV (@FanDuelTV) April 11, 2023
Reaves has let it be known that he intends to stay with the team beyond this contract, but any team willing to give him $10 or $20 more million could make him change his mind.
He’s set to become a restricted free agent next season, so the Lakers could match any offer they get for him.
Reaves has earned every single minute he’s been on the court this season and, while he’s not a superstar prospect, he figures to have a long and successful NBA career.
Now, will it be with the Lakers? Remains to be seen.
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