Report: At least three other teams will make Austin Reaves an offer
Article excerpt
Austin Reaves is drawing interest from at least three other NBA teams beyond the Lakers as free agency approaches this summer, according to reports. The third-year guard has emerged as a valuable asset for Los Angeles, making him an attractive target for franchises looking to upgrade their rosters. While the Lakers will have the opportunity to retain Reaves, the competitive bidding could reshape negotiations around his next contract. Teams are already positioning themselves to make pitches to the 25-year-old, who has become a key contributor in the NBA's crowded guard market.
Many fans feel at least somewhat assured that the Los Angeles Lakers will reach an agreement with star guard Austin Reaves, who is expected to opt out of his contract and become a free agent later this month. However, such an agreement is far from a foregone conclusion.
According to a recent ESPN report, the Brooklyn Nets are expected to make a run at Reaves and possibly offer him a max contract. Now, per Dan Woike of The Athletic, the Atlanta Hawks and Detroit Pistons, among possibly other teams, are also expected to make Reaves an offer in free agency.
"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," Woike wrote. "League sources said the Detroit Pistons and Atlanta Hawks are among a group of interested teams that can create space to make competitive offers. Other teams could also emerge."
But Woike also noted that the NBA's current salary cap, which is, for all intents and purposes, almost a hard salary cap, will make teams a bit leery of spending big bucks on free agents.
"At the same time, league sources said teams are approaching free agency with increased caution because of the restrictions tied to the league’s first and second tax aprons, potentially leading to more conservative spending than in previous summers."
It had been thought that perhaps Reaves would accept an offer in the range of $30 million to $40 million a year to stay in L.A. However, the feeling now seems to be that he could receive something closer to a max contract.
Brad Turner of the Los Angeles Times recently said on Spectrum SportsNet that Reaves and his representatives want a max contract this summer. The guard averaged 23.3 points and 5.5 assists a game during the regular season, but after returning from an oblique strain, he underperformed for the second straight postseason.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Report: At least three other teams will make Austin Reaves an offer