The Los Angeles Lakers just inked Austin Reaves to a four-year max contract, and the Jaylen Brown trade quickly showed them that dealing an overpaid co-star isn’t appealing. Reaves got $185 million over four years. He will make $51.1 million in the final year. Brown is set to make $57.0 million next season and was just traded for Paul George, two first-round picks, and two second-rounders. That is a bargain for a player that just finished sixth in MVP voting.
The Lakers paid significantly more to sign-and-trade for Walker Kessler. The big man has never been an All-Star and averages under ten points per game for his career. Brown’s massive contract, desire to be a number one option, and discontent with the Celtics shopping him led to a minimal return, but it won’t be any better if the Lakers have to move on from Reaves.
Every dollar and draft pick counts in the second apron era, but good luck convincing Rob Pelinka. He keeps wasting assets and overpaying talent. It is why the Lakers keep narrowly avoiding disaster and being unable to seriously contend for a championship. The Celtics got to that same position, and deciding to sell low on Brown was the only way out.
Lakers just saw Austin Reaves trade value after Jaylen Brown deal
Brown is a better player than Reaves. He is one year older and a Finals MVP. Yes, JB is making more money, but he should be.
The Celtics were stuck. They knew they couldn’t bring Brown to training camp, but the offers weren’t coming in. Teams are worried about his overreliance on the mid-range game and lack of playmaking. Brown helped Boston win the title in 2024. That was two years ago. Things change quickly in the NBA, and Reaves’ new contract should already have the Lakers looking for some anti-nausea medicine.
AR is the number two in Los Angeles. LeBron James is gone. This is Luka’s team with Reaves as his running mate. AR deserves this opportunity. He averaged 23.3 points, 5.5 assists, and 4.7 rebounds in 34.5 minutes per game last season. Reaves would have been an All-Star if he stayed healthy, but that doesn’t save the Lakers from the downside of his new contract.
Rob Pelinka’s offseason moves have to work. He paid way too much for Walker Kessler and Austin Reaves. The Lakers bet on Quentin Grimes, Sandro Mamukelashvili, and Collin Sexton becoming key pieces around their star duo. These were gambles. If they don’t work, things could be disastrous in Lakerland. Pivoting out will be difficult. The Lakers would get even less for Reaves than the Celtics just got for Jaylen Brown. That doesn’t bode well for building around Luka.
The Boston Celtics just taught the Los Angeles Lakers what an overpaid co-star is worth on the trade market. Jaylen Brown went for significantly less than anyone thought. The Lakers just locked themselves into a problematic deal with Reaves and may soon face the same disastrous fate as the rival Celtics. Hopefully not, but the lesson is there for LA to learn from in the future. A penny saved is a penny earned in the NBA’s second apron era.
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