Simply days earlier than the beginning of the common season, and the Los Angeles Lakers might have obtained some regarding information concerning Austin Reeves. Based on the Ringers’ Zach Lowe, Reaves may conceivably command a contract price $40 million a yr as soon as he hits free company subsequent summer time.
That’s if he has a powerful contract yr. The Lakers ought to hope that he has an All-Star caliber season. Nevertheless, would Lakers followers actually really feel snug paying him $40 million yearly over the following 4 years?
That’s debatable contemplating that he’s an offense-only participant, albeit an more and more proficient one. He had a breakout 2024-25 season, posting 20.2 factors, 4.5 rebounds, and 5.8 assists, and performed even higher as soon as the workforce acquired Luka Doncic.
That hints that he may very well be an ideal long-term offensive match alongside Doncic, however he’s maybe higher served as a 3rd possibility, not a second possibility. That’s what makes the prospect of paying him $40 million yearly so questionable.
The Lakers ought to commerce Austin Reaves for a real star
In spite of everything, the wage cap for the 2026-2027 season is projected to be $165 million, with $40+ million being an enormous chunk of that. Alternatively, that may solely be 24.2% of the wage cap, which is the going fee for an above-average starter.
Nonetheless, if the Lakers can improve by buying and selling Reaves, then they need to. The obvious possibility is Milwaukee Bucks superstarGiannis Antetokounmpo. He’s extra of a shoot for the stratosphere, pie within the sky, commerce goal.
Even so, the Lakers have an extended historical past of touchdown superstars (see the Doncic commerce), and Reaves having a powerful begin to the season would make that commerce a bit extra attainable. Constructing a contending workforce round two guards who’re terrific offensive gamers and poor defensive gamers is extraordinarily onerous to do. In actual fact, it could be extra bother than it’s price for the Lakers to do.
Consequently, pairing a Doncic with a real co-star is a greater possibility than paying Reaves massive bucks subsequent summer time. Giannis can be the proper possibility, although there are probably others too.
All informed, the Lakers must be cautious of paying Reaves 40 million a season, even when he has a powerful yr. With rumors swirling that they might have an outdoor probability of touchdown a famous person resembling Antetokounmpo, there are different choices concerning his future.
