The Los Angeles Lakers have some big decisions to make as free agency starts to sneak up on them. While Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura both played big roles in helping them make the Western Conference Finals as a No. 7 seed, but they can both cash in this offseason.
With the Lakers looking less likely to bring back D’Angelo Russell due to his exorbitant costs and playoff struggles, signing a quality young guard like Reaves and a power forward that has continuously proven his worth in the league like Hachimura will give LeBron James and Anthony Davis some extra support.
Of course, when you are paying James and Davis like the superstars they are, the cash that LA ends up splashing needs to be reined in, to some degree. Even with a judicious approach to roster building, everything about what LA is trying to do will revolve around Hachimura and Reaves coming back.
According to insider Marc Stein, the Lakers are prepared to match whatever contract Reaves ends up getting in free agency. Stein added that LA’s plans for the offseason are based around signing Reaves and Hachimura to new deals that keep the pair in Los Angeles long-term.
“It feels like a home for me. The way the fans support me, the players, coaching staff, front office. This is definitely somewhere I want to be.”
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) May 23, 2023
Austin Reaves: End of Season Interview pic.twitter.com/7eux8oTSbz
NBA rumors: Lakers want Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura.
After bungling the Alex Caruso sweepstakes, the Lakers will likely be very aggressive in retaining Reaves. While he isn’t the defender Caruso is, the playoffs helped show that he is a legitimate weapon on the offensive side that can score without demanding the ball a ton.
Hachimura startedplaying like a Top 10 pick with LA, even though his offensive role was limited. While he will also never be a great defender, the offense had a degree of pizzazz they lacked when the former Washington Wizards big man was plying his trade in the nation’s capital.
The Lakers, perhaps spurred on by LeBron James hinting at the possibility of retirement after all these years, might need to retain many of their big names. Reaves and Hachimura won’t make or break their title odds by themselves, but LA won’t go anywhere without some solid bench players that can step up when called upon.
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