The Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly not excited about buying and selling fourth-year guard Austin Reaves regardless of rumors and hypothesis that the group is pursuing a transfer to enhance their roster.
Lakers Commerce Rumors: Austin Reaves will seemingly keep put alongside LeBron James, Anthony Davis
Throughout an look on “Buha’s Block,” starting on the 20-minute mark of the video under, Sam Amick of The Athletic reported that the Lakers don’t need to half methods with Reaves, saying:
“They’ve been largely stagnant for nearly two years now when it comes to making strikes. And so they’ve been very reluctant, particularly, to debate Austin Reaves who I solely spotlight as a result of he’s an excellent, younger participant on a really team-friendly contract that may encourage different groups to play ball, negotiation-wise. However that, to my information, remains to be a non-starter.”
In keeping with Basketball-Reference, Reaves is the Lakers’ third-leading scorer, trailing superstars LeBron James and Anthony Davis. The Arkansas native leads the supporting forged of D’Angelo Russell, Rui Hachimura, Dalton Knecht, and Co.
Reaves, 26, went undrafted out of the College of Oklahoma in 2021 and signed as an undrafted free agent with the Lakers. The 6-foot-5 guard demonstrated spectacular sharp-shooting and ball-handling expertise throughout his rookie season.
Reaves signed a four-year, $53.93 million contract extension final July
In Los Angeles’ 146-141 regular-season finale time beyond regulation win towards the Denver Nuggets on April 10, 2022, he recorded his first profession triple-double, amassing a career-high 31 factors, 16 rebounds, and 10 assists in 41 minutes as a starter.
Reaves then completed seventh in NBA Sixth Man of the 12 months voting in 2022-23 after averaging 13 factors, 3.0 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 28.8 minutes per recreation whereas taking pictures profession bests of 52.9% from the sphere, 39.8% from 3-point vary, and 86.4% on the foul line.
Since then, Reaves has moved into the beginning lineup and he has continued to enhance, averaging 15.9 factors, 5.5 assists, and 4.3 rebounds final season, and a career-high 16.7 factors, 4.8 assists, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.1 steals thus far this season.
Reaves additionally signed a four-year, $53.83 million contract extension final July, tying him to the Lakers by way of a minimum of the 2025-26 season. His deal features a 15% commerce bonus and a 2026-27 participant choice that’s value $14.89 million.
Though the Lakers may use an All-Star heart, it could be unwise for the group to commerce a younger participant who’s each productive and reasonably priced. This will clarify why common supervisor Rob Pelinka is hesitant to buy Reaves.
