Brooklyn Nets Expected to Offer Lakers Guard Austin Reaves a Max Deal
Austin Reaves is set to receive a huge payday this summer, and the Brooklyn Nets are looking to be the team that gives it to him.
Austin Reaves will be one of the most sought-after free agents to hit the market once he declines his player option in the coming weeks. Now, there are only a select few teams that are actually capable of offering Reaves a max deal, and the Brooklyn Nets are one of those teams.
According to Dan Woike’s report on the New York Times, the Nets will try to lure Reaves away from L.A. and offer a $178.5 million deal for 4 years. Woike also reports that the Pistons and Hawks could create cap space through various roster maneuvers and make competitive offers for Reaves. He also alluded to the possibility of other teams emerging in pursuit of Reaves.
It’s no surprise that many other teams around the league are eager to try and land Reaves after the season he had and the growth he’s shown as a player and as a leader. The offers will come flying in the millisecond free agency begins on June 30th. But at the end of the day, it’s wherever Austin feels he can contribute to winning and wherever he feels valued. All indicators point to Reaves wanting to stay and to working out a long-term deal to keep him in Los Angeles.
Where Does That Leave the Rest of the Roster?
Dan Woike, in his report, stated that the general belief around the NBA is that the Lakers and Reaves will come to an agreement on a deal. Mostly because losing Reaves for nothing would be catastrophic, and there would be no pathway to replacing him with a player even close to his caliber in the free agent market.
If and when Reaves returns, what then? Doncic and Reaves have long been criticized by fans and media for their lack of defensive prowess. Are they All-NBA Defenders? No, but they’re a lot better than many would give them credit for.
That makes this offseason that much more important. Can the Lakers find players willing to dig deep on defense, crash the glass, and deter shots at the rim? Does that mean letting players like Rui Hachimura or Luke Kennard walk in free agency? While both are absolute snipers from three-point range, they don’t provide the defense and rebounding needed to mask the star’s weaknesses. These are real questions Rob Pelinka and the Lakers front office will have to ask themselves.
And who do they bring in? Portland center Robert Williams III has been a popular name linked to the Lakers. A bit of a lengthy injury history but on the court but he has a great defensive interior presence and can stretch the floor. Other potential targets include restricted free agent Peyton Watson, Quentin Grimes, Matisse Thybulle, or Kelly Oubre Jr.
Could the Lakers decide it’s time to move off of Jarred Vanderbilt and Dalton Knecht? Could sophomore Miami center Kel’el Ware be an option? There’s also the possibility that players will unexpectedly become available on the buyout market, similar to how the Lakers landed Marcus Smart and DeAndre Ayton last summer. It will become clearer as the draft and free agency approach.
Plenty of uncertainty at the moment for L.A.’s summer plans, but keeping Reaves for the long run should already be a no-brainer.
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