Los Angeles Lakers Guard Austin Reaves grew to become a family identify after replacing Malik Beasley within the beginning lineup. A 25-points and career-high 11 assists feat secured his place within the hearts of Lakers fandom. Reaves had spectacular performances all through the playoffs and is taken into account the Lakers third finest participant.
Now that the Lakers’ postseason has led to a sweep, Lakers Famous person Lebron James has implied that the Lakers must revamp the lineup if they need him to remain. This offseason will convey Reaves his first large NBA contract, however he’s not a celebrity caliber participant that James will possible require.
As a restricted free agent, different groups can supply Reaves more cash than the Lakers can afford if they need a 3rd celebrity participant. The Lakers could also be pressured to let Reaves stroll. This makes the opportunity of Reaves enjoying in a Spurs uniform extra real looking than you suppose
The Lakers Want A Third Famous person
Finally the choice might be with Lakers GM Rob Pelinka. If he have been to resolve that restructuring the staff for James just isn’t value it, they’ve 9 gamers on the present roster coming into free company, and retaining Reaves might be simpler.
The issue is that the 2023-24 season often is the Lakers’ final probability to compete for a Championship with James on the roster. James might be 39, coming into his twenty first season, and continues to be the undisputed first scoring choice for the Lakers. Anthony Davis had nice performances this season however, has fallen in need of taking up as a primary choice.
This implies they should signal somebody able to taking the scoring burden off of James. The 2 names which have been talked about as attainable choices are Kyrie Irving and Trae Younger. Irving would want to just accept a wage reduce and Younger would want a commerce bundle.
Daring Strikes For Kyrie Irving or Trae Younger
By way of cap house, with gutting the roster of most free brokers the Lakers may have $35 million value of cap house to signal Irving.
Kyrie Irving
The query is will Irving be keen to stroll away from a $272 million max contract with the Mavericks for an opportunity to compete for a second championship with James? Strolling away from $54 million a 12 months to someplace round $30 million a 12 months is an enormous choice for a participant that left his earlier staff as a result of they weren’t keen to pay him a max contract.
If Irving have been capable of comply with a lesser contract, the Lakers would have a participant that has expertise being profitable with James and might take over as a primary scoring choice. The draw back is that they’ll need to fill roster vacancies with gamers keen to play for a minimal contract.
Trae Younger
As for Younger, he’ll be coming into the second 12 months of a $207 million five-year contract. Subsequent season he stands to make $40 million, that quantity goes up every year of his contract so a significant commerce bundle could be required for this selection.
If the Hawks have been keen to entertain such a proposal, Younger is a confirmed first-scoring choice participant. He is probably not as proficient as Irving however he could be an excellent addition to the Lakers roster.
Can The Lakers Afford To Match Affords?
With the cap house scenario and the new CBA making the luxurious repeater tax go up from $50 million to $70 million, Pelinka must resolve how badly they need to maintain Reaves.
The utmost qualifying supply for Reaves is $50 million, however as a restricted free agent different groups can supply as a lot as $80 million.
After an incredible season, there might be groups making Reaves presents. Pelinka must resolve if $80 million is value it for a possible fourth scoring choice on the beginning lineup.
Spurs and Rockets May Supply The Max For Austin Reaves
The Houston Rockets have already expressed interest in pursuing Reaves. On the time of this writing, the San Antonio Spurs haven’t publicly proven curiosity in Reaves however as a staff with a ton of cap house, providing Reaves a front-loaded $80 million contract would add a 20-point-per-game scorer together with the incoming no 1 decide Victor Wembanyama.
A front-loaded contract permits Austin Reaves wage to be much less in 2025 when big-name free brokers might be accessible like Paul George and Anthony Davis. It additionally makes it more durable for the Lakers to match the supply and takes away a key piece to a competitor’s roster. If the Rockets or one other staff additionally supply Reaves the $80 million max, it’s important to suppose that with a generational expertise like Wembanyama incoming the Spurs could be a simple selection for Reaves to make.
Do you suppose the Lakers will chew the bullet and make Irving a proposal and match an $80 million supply for Austin Reaves? Is Reaves value that form of Wage? Is it a wise transfer for the Spurs to pursue him? Remark your take under. Be sure to comply with Project Spurs on Twitter and Facebook and subscribe to our YouTube Channel. Now we have all of your offseason Spurs and Wembanyama information and analyst.
