LOS ANGELES– Austin Reaves is returning to the Los Angeles Lakers. Inking a four-year, $185 million maximum contract to return to the franchise, with a player option for the final season in 2029-30.
Reaves declined his $14.9 million player option to pave the way for this new max deal, which is the richest contract in NBA history for an undrafted player.
A true NBA rags to riches story. From G League, to role player and finally, to full blown NBA star.
Austin Reaves is the epitome of the American dream. Lakers management pulled out all the stops during contract negotiations to prove just how important he is to the team.
Representatives from the Lakers ownership and their front office met with Reaves and his agents at the team’s practice facility, where they had several personal touches for the guard, including personalized “AR”-initialed pillows and his favorite country music.
Reaves was coveted by the Detroit Pistons, but his loyalty to the the Purple and Gold was too strong.
“He started his journey here as a Laker and has made it very clear to us that he wants his journey to continue as a Laker,” Lakers President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Rob Pelinka said. “We want his odyssey to continue to unfold in the Purple and Gold.”
Reaves averaged 23.3 points on 49% shooting (36% from 3), with 5.5 assists, 4.7 rebounds and 1.1 steals last season. Although he missed portions of the season with calf and oblique injuries.
He made a valiant return to the lineup in the NBA playoffs, where the Lakers advanced to the second round before being swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Now we wait and see if LeBron James will return to the Lakers. The organization has $50 million dollars of cap space.
LeBron and the Lakers are currently negotiating a new contract, with both sides going back and forth. James will turn 42 in December, but remains one of the games greatest players.
However, the next two weeks are pivotal as Lakers top brass and LeBron James have had some disagreements over his 8 years as a Laker.
Lakers fans were not happy when Giannis Antetokounmpo was traded to the Miami Heat, fearing James might return to South Beach. The other team to watch out for is of course, the Cleveland Cavaliers.
In my humble opinion as a self-appointed LeBronologist, the prevailing belief around the NBA is that a reunion in purple and gold remains the most likely outcome.
Austin Reaves was near the green when he got the green.
The Lakers star’s girlfriend, Jenna Barber, showed on her Instagram Stories on Wednesday that Reaves was out on the golf course when he learned Los Angeles was offering him a maximum four-year, $185 million contract.
Austin Reaves is here to stay. It is a great day for Lakers Nation.
