{"id":88121,"date":"2025-08-11T07:59:04","date_gmt":"2025-08-11T07:59:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=88121"},"modified":"2025-08-11T07:59:04","modified_gmt":"2025-08-11T07:59:04","slug":"report-lakers-austin-reaves-could-get-wake-up-call-on-massive-new-contract","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=88121","title":{"rendered":"Report: Lakers\u2019 Austin Reaves Could Get \u2018Wake-Up Call\u2019 on Massive New Contract"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Lakers<\/p>\n

It\u2019s no secret that the contract the\u00a0Lakers\u00a0gave guard Austin Reaves when he hit free agency in 2023\u2013four years and $54 million\u2013was a rock-bottom\u00a0NBA\u00a0bargain. Many expected Reaves to get something in the four-year, $100 million range, but under league rules, the Lakers were not allowed to pay Reaves at that level and, ultimately, he could not get anyone else to make that investment, either.<\/p>\n

So he took his hefty deal from L.A. and is now careening toward his next crack at free agency, next summer when he surely will exercise his player option.<\/p>\n

As one executive\u00a0told Tim Bontemps of ESPN, \u201cI think he will get $30 [million] plus.\u201d That\u2019s per season, of course, and could mean that Reaves is in line for a five-year, $150 million megadeal.<\/p>\n

Lakers Could Benefit<\/h2>\n

Ah, but not all executives agree. One GM said he thinks Reaves will be, \u201ca little bit of a test case\u201d for the\u00a0NBA\u2019s new, stiffer luxury-tax rules.<\/p>\n

\u201cTwo years ago, Reaves would get $30 million, no doubt,\u201d the GM said. \u201cIf there had been more (cap) space, he might have gotten it then. There has been a mindset to being willing to overpay players based on, almost, where they\u2019re supposed to slot in. So, Zach LaVine got $215 (million) even though the Bulls knew they did not want to give it to him and tried to trade him as soon as they did give it. And there\u2019s 15, 20 guys like that.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cYou can\u2019t do that anymore. You can\u2019t just say, \u2018Well, he averages 20 (points) so he needs to get $30 (million) per year.\u2019 No. You\u2019re going to have to take these negotiations more seriously. You\u2019re going to have to be realistic about what a guy is worth, on both ends of the floor, before you put a number out there. And Austin Reaves should get $24, $25 (million) a year. Not $30.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cIt matters.\u201d<\/p>\n

If teams are being tighter, of course, that figures to benefit the Lakers.<\/p>\n

Lakers Will Have Cap Space<\/h2>\n

Reaves had a breakout season, averaging 20.2 points. But he remains a defensive liability, and a player who has struggled in the playoffs. More important, while there will be teams with cap space next season, it\u2019s still a limited field.<\/p>\n

It could held Reaves that, other than the Lakers and the Clippers, the rest of the list of teams with cap space are is made up of mostly teams that are low on talent\u2013teams like Washington, Charlotte, Chicago and Brooklyn could have space.<\/p>\n

But the league\u2019s salary cap will be set at a lower mark than expected. That\u2019s going to eat into cap space for a player like Reaves.<\/p>\n

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