B/R projects Western rival will steal Austin Reaves from Lakers with huge deal
By Mike Luciano
The Los Angeles Lakers may be on the verge of losing one of the best free agents on the market in Austin Reaves, and it is all thanks to the Gilbert Arenas rule. Because of the limitations on what the Lakers can offer, other teams might sign him to a huge offer sheet.
Reaves went from a promising undrafted free agent to a player who has shown he can be a quality starting off-ball guard on a team with designs on a deep postseason run. After his breakout second season, he is well aware of the fact that it is time to cash in.
Reaves will not only take advantage of his tremendous 2022-23 season but also will get a boost from the fact that 2023 is a generally thin class. As such, teams will be willing to throw a ton of money at him to secure his signature.
Grant Hughes of Bleacher Report projected that Reaves would sign a four-year offer sheet worth slightly less than $100 million with the San Antonio Spurs. LA has said they will likely do everything they can to match whatever offer Reaves gets in free agency, but this would test their commitment.
During a recent appearance on "The Dan Patrick Show," J.J. Redick mentioned that upgrading at point guard is a need for the Los Angeles Lakers, but Kyrie Irving likely isn't their best option.
— Grant Afseth (@GrantAfseth) June 1, 2023
"First of all, [Rui] Hachimura and [Austin] Reaves need to come back. ... If you can… pic.twitter.com/fBdqU4Dj3s
Can the Los Angeles Lakers keep Austin Reaves?
Reaves averaged 13.0 points and 3.4 assists per game last season while making just under 40% of his 3-pointers. The Lakers need more players like Reaves if they want to surround an aging roster with enough shooters to get the job done on the offensive side of the ball.
The Spurs and Houston Rockets could be teams to watch in the race for Reaves, as they both have oodles of cap space and a need for more shooting. After bungling Alex Caruso and watching him thrive with the Bulls, many around the organization will likely want the Lakers to bring him back, no matter what.
Austin Reaves grades out as the NBA's 37th best Perimeter Isolation defender in our BBall Index database in our difficulty-adjusted version of that metric.
— Cranjis McBasketball (@Tim_NBA) June 8, 2023
His Off-Ball Chaser Defense grades out 30th.
Reaves is not a player that is going to change your fortune by himself, but he is also not going to take less than market value just because he liked playing in Los Angeles. Rob Pelinka better pay up.
