Heading into the summer, the Los Angeles Lakers made it known they would be prioritizing retaining their own free agents this offseason. We’ve already seen that plan of action take its course in a number of ways. The latest includes Austin Reaves, the fan-favorite many Lakers fans did not want to see in a new uniform next season.
According to Shams Charania, Reaves is inking a four-year, $56 million Early Bird maximum contract with the Lakers. Earning an average rate of $14 million per season, Reaves’ contract includes a player option for the fourth year, giving him some control over his future in L.A.
It’s clear the Lakers did everything they could to entice Reaves to stick around as they pursue another NBA championship. In doing so, they even included a 15% trade kicker on his contract, meaning if he’s traded over the next four years, Reaves will receive a 15% raise.
Having made his NBA debut with the Lakers after going undrafted out of Oklahoma, Reaves had a career year, becoming a household name, not just in Los Angeles but across the entire basketball landscape.
- Austin Reaves’ stats last season: 13 PPG, 3.4 APG, 3 RPG, 52% FG, 39% 3PT
Reaves earned a large role under coach Darvin Ham’s guidance, averaging 28.8 minutes per game last season, helping the Lakers make a late-season surge. His strong effort only continued in the playoffs, spiking up to 16.9 PPG while shooting a blistering 44% from distance. It’s no surprise the Lakers made retaining their developing star a big priority at the start of free agency.