Are the Brooklyn Nets a real threat to lure away Austin Reaves? That much is debatable. However, they can offer insight into what the next contract for the Los Angeles Lakers guard could look like. If Dan Woike's sources are to be believed (which they generally can be), the deal will be pretty sizable.
"Multiple front-office sources around the league, granted anonymity to freely discuss an opposing player, expect Reaves to have interest from the Brooklyn Nets, with a four-year, $178.5 million contract expected to be offered."
If that number is an accurate assessment, that would have at least one rival competitor for Reaves' services willing to pay up an annual salary of roughly $44.6 million. For the most part, that should be par for the course when it comes to what fans have been hearing about his next deal.
$40 million on average is the ballpark around which Reaves has been projected in the lead-up to free agency. Hearing that the Nets are willing to reasonably exceed that should not be surprising given how unattractive the current state of their franchise is otherwise. The major question for the Lakers will be whether AR is willing to concede a few million off that yearly salary for a better situation.
Lakers should comfortably expect Austin Reaves to command at least $40 million
If Reaves is to be taken at his word, the Lakers guard has previously emphasized the importance of a winning environment. The Nets do not offer that alongside that potential $178.5 million contract.
That begs the question of whether the Lakers can get away with not matching the Nets buck for buck and coming in at a slightly lower number.
Unlike Brooklyn, Los Angeles is more than suited to be a contender next season. The Lakers organization has also been responsible for helping guide Reaves' journey from undrafted rookie to star guard.
Everyone expects Reaves to be Luka Doncic's running mate for the next era of Lakers basketball. The pair share a bond that was evident to anyone watching Los Angeles play this season.
Does all of that hold enough weight for Reaves to take closer to $40 million than $45 and leave the Lakers with a few extra buckets to play around with in filling out the roster? Fans and the front office alike would certainly hope so.
Bringing back Reaves is a top priority for the Lakers this summer. If what the Nets are offering is brought back to Los Angeles with serious threat of the 28-year-old leaving, Rob Pelinka may be put in a spot where matching the price tag is his only choice.
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