Two insiders reveal possible value of Austin Reaves' next contract
It looks like Austin Reaves wants to stay with the Lakers on a new contract, but how much would it cost the Lakers to keep him?
With Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves suddenly sidelined by injuries, the Los Angeles Lakers ' present and immediate future have suddenly become very murky. Their chances of making a deep playoff run seemed realistic before both stars got hurt, but now, those chances are slim to none, with both of them out for at least a few weeks. The Lakers' outlook for next season is also murky.
A number of their players can or will become free agents at the conclusion of this campaign, and that includes Reaves, who will almost certainly opt out of his contract this summer. Many expect him to remain with the team, but the question is how much money it will take to keep him on the roster. A few days ago, NBA insider Brett Siegel wrote in a ClutchPoints article that not only does Reaves not want to leave the Lakers, but that his next contract could be a hefty one.
"Despite teams being ready to throw a massive contract at Reaves in free agency, he holds no desire to leave the Lakers, sources told ClutchPoints," Siegel reported. "A five-year contract north of $220 million is on the horizon for Reaves in Hollywood, as the Lakers' future is centered around him and Luka Doncic. With plenty of cap space entering the offseason, the Lakers will be very aggressive in their pursuit of adding length, athleticism, and two-way play at the forward positions.
" If Reaves has or will rule out joining another team this summer, the Lakers must be careful not to negotiate against themselves, so to speak, especially since they need to retain several other players, including perhaps LeBron James, while also securing a couple of upgrades. Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report expanded a bit on what Reaves' next contract could look like. "As a veteran with five years of experience, he will be eligible to re-sign with the Lakers (once he opts out of his $14.