The Lakers are ready to offer for Austin Reaves

Reports indicate that the Los Angeles Lakers are set to make a strong push to retain Austin Reaves, who is expected to be in high demand as a restricted free agent this summer. While the Lakers have the ability to offer Reaves approximately $50 million over a four-year period, it is anticipated that he will receive offers that exceed this amount.

Reports suggest that the Lakers are prepared to offer as much as $100 million to keep Reaves with the team. According to Jovan Buha, of The Athletic, the Lakers consider Reaves the third-best player on the roster based on his performance during the regular season and the postseason. Buha believes that Reaves will be a top priority for the Lakers during the offseason, and that they have learned from past mistakes in choosing not to match offers for players like Alex Caruso. During the playoffs, Reaves upped his game, averaging 16.9 points, 4.6 assists, and 4.4 rebounds per game, compared to his regular season averages of 13.0 points, 3.4 assists, and 3.0 rebounds. If the Lakers are indeed willing to offer Reaves $100 million, it could suggest that they are prepared to let other key players go.

Austin Reaves, currently with the Lakers, is reportedly being pursued by the Spurs as a potential signing. The Spurs are seen as a major threat in securing Reaves’ services.

According to NBA insider Jovan Buha from The Athletic, there’s a chance the San Antonio Spurs may try to snag Austin Reaves from the Los Angeles Lakers. Reaves is set to become a restricted free agent this summer, which means he can either re-sign with the Lakers or sign an offer sheet with another team. However, the Lakers have the option to match any offer sheet within 48 hours.Despite the potential interest from other teams, Buha believes Reaves will ultimately remain in Los Angeles. Buha stated on the HoopsHype podcast that the Lakers view Reaves as their third-best player based on his regular season and postseason performance, and they will match any contract offer sheet he receives up to $100 million.

While there may be multiple suitors for Reaves, including Orlando and Houston, Buha thinks San Antonio could be a dark horse team. However, he emphasizes that keeping Reaves is a top priority for the Lakers this offseason, and they will learn from their mistake with letting Alex Caruso go.

Reaves had an impressive season, averaging 13.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 3.4 assists during the regular season and 16.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 4.6 assists in the playoffs. The Lakers, unfortunately, were swept by the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals.

Here’s a potential trade scenario involving Klay Thompson and Austin Reaves of the Lakers and Warriors respectively.

Ahead of the NBA offseason, the Los Angeles Lakers face some challenging decisions. Despite their impressive performances, the team still requires some improvements to become true title contenders. Acquiring more sharpshooters tops the Lakers’ to-do list, as inconsistent three-point accuracy let them down throughout the season and ultimately in the playoffs. Adding more shooters around LeBron James, who thrives with such company, would make the most sense.Another task for the Lakers is dealing with multiple players set to reach free agency, including Austin Reaves. Since some of them could be beyond the team’s budget, the players may be used for trade purposes.

Klay Thompson is one name suggested to fill the Lakers’ shooting needs. The Golden State Warriors could be undergoing significant changes now that their front office administrator, Bob Myers, has resigned. Rumors suggest that the Lakers offer Reaves, Rui Hachimura, and a 2029 first-round pick to Golden State for Thompson.

Thompson would complement James and Anthony Davis’ style of play perfectly, despite being absent for two years following Achilles and ACL injuries. Though not as effective defensively as before, Thompson is still one of the league’s elite three-point specialists. Golden State, on the other hand, can employ a reconstruction strategy with Stephen Curry. Reaves and Hachimura could boost the Warriors’ guard and forward positions’ overall quality and are both promising players who shone during the playoffs.

As for the future, that 2029 first-round draft pick could prove to be a valuable asset, as James would have retired, and Davis would be approaching the end of his career by that time.