Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves is looking for a max deal in free agency this offseason, according to Brad Turner of the Los Angeles Times.
Reaves is expected to decline his player option for next season and enter unrestricted free agency this summer. The Arkansas native signed a four-year, $53 million contract with the Lakers in July 2023.
Reaves averaged 23.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game this season while shooting 49.0% from the field, 36.0% from 3 and 87.1% from the free-throw line. He’s considered one of the best undrafted players in NBA history.
The Brooklyn Nets could pursue Reaves in free agency this offseason, according to Tim Bontemps of ESPN. Most people around the NBA expect Reaves to re-sign with the Lakers, though. Reaves has a close relationship with Luka Dončić and head coach JJ Redick.
Brooklyn had the third-worst record in the East this season at 20-62. The franchise is in deep rebuild mode, so it would be shocking to see Reaves leave the Lakers for the Nets.
Reaves holds career averages of 15.8 points, 3.9 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game in the regular season and 17.3 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game in the playoffs. He helped the Lakers reach the Western Conference Finals in 2023.
The Lakers went 53-29 this season. They beat the Houston Rockets in the first round of the playoffs in six games but lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round in four games. Reaves missed Games 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the Rockets series with an oblique injury, while Dončić missed the entire playoffs because of a severe hamstring injury.
NBA legend LeBron James becomes a free agent this offseason for the first time since 2018. If he doesn’t retire, James is expected to either re-sign with the Lakers or return to the Cleveland Cavaliers. The future Hall of Famer has also been linked to the New York Knicks and Golden State Warriors.
