This is undoubtedly the priority of the Lakers offseason. Austin Reaves enters the market with the status of protected “free agent”. And according to Marc Steinthe Californians would be ready to align themselves with “ any offer made at the back of Los Angeles.
Including if another team goes so far as to offer him a maximum offer of around… 100 million dollars over four years as part of the “free agency”.
If the Lakers went that far, the undrafted player would have the team’s third-highest salary, behind the inevitable LeBron James and Anthony Davis, both earning over $40 million.
Austin Reaves, the first Lieutenant of the LeBron-Davis tandem
It would be a lot for a “role player”, paid only 1.5 million dollars this year, but not entirely illogical because in fact, Austin Reaves was precisely the third best player on the team in the playoffs. After an already very accomplished regular season with 13 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists on average, he increased his performance to 17 points (thus third best scorer), 4 rebounds and 4 assists in the final stages.
Adroit from afar, altruistic in the game with a huge IQ, active in defense… He ticks all the boxes of a useful player in a collective. So much so that it should attract the attention of other franchises. Like the Rockets who would be ready to take out the checkbook if James Harden did not decide to return.
| Austin Reaves | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2021-22 | ALL | 61 | 23 | 45.9 | 31.7 | 83.9 | 0.7 | 2.4 | 3.2 | 1.8 | 1.4 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 7.3 |
| 2022-23 | ALL | 64 | 29 | 52.9 | 39.8 | 86.4 | 0.5 | 2.5 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 1.7 | 0.5 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 13.0 |
| Total | 125 | 26 | 50.1 | 36.3 | 85.6 | 0.6 | 2.5 | 3.1 | 2.6 | 1.6 | 0.5 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 10.2 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots made / Shots attempted; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def= defensive rebound; Tot = Total bounces; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost bullets; Ct: Counters; Points = Points.
