Austin Reaves' impressive performance during his breakout season has put him in a position where the Los Angeles Lakers might struggle to meet his contract demands. According to NBA insider Marc Stein, there will be at least one team that offers Reaves a contract exceeding what the Lakers are willing to pay. The Lakers initially signed Reaves to a two-year contract as an undrafted free agent in August 2021, and he is now set to become a restricted free agent this summer, allowing the Lakers to match any offers he receives from other teams.
Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium recently noted that the Lakers' maximum offer is currently just above $50 million over four years. However, teams with available cap space could potentially present Reaves with an offer sheet far surpassing that amount. In March, Danny Leroux of The Athletic pointed out that the Gilbert Arenas provision in the collective bargaining agreement enhances Reaves' negotiating leverage. This provision limits the first-year salary an opposing team can offer a restricted free agent with limited NBA experience but allows for substantial raises in subsequent years.
Leroux provided an example in which Reaves would earn less than $12 million in each of the first two years, followed by a significant jump to $36.85 million in the third year, resulting in a total of $98.7 million over four years. This creates an intriguing dynamic for both the Lakers and potential suitors, as it becomes an all-or-nothing situation. The Lakers can pay Reaves more than they can offer themselves, but only if another team is willing to tie up their cap space while the Lakers decide whether to match the offer.
Adding to the complexity is the Lakers' future direction. While they have reached the Western Conference finals after revamping their roster at the trade deadline, they face several decisions regarding free agents such as D'Angelo Russell, Dennis Schröder, Lonnie Walker IV, and Malik Beasley. Additionally, Rui Hachimura, who has been shooting 54.5 percent from three-point range in the playoffs, will also be a restricted free agent alongside Reaves this summer. Despite previous speculation about Kyrie Irving potentially joining the Lakers, The Athletic's Tim Cato reported that the Lakers are "uninterested" in signing the point guard.
Reaves has emerged as a crucial contributor in head coach Darvin Ham's rotation this season, averaging 13.0 points per game and shooting 39.8 percent from three-point range during the regular season. His playoff performance has been even more impressive, with 16.4 points per game and a 43.2 percent success rate from beyond the arc in 14 games. As negotiations unfold, Reaves' contract situation adds further intrigue to the Lakers' offseason plans and the team's future direction.
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