The San Antonio Spurs considered offering Austin Reaves a restricted free agency sheet worth $21 million per season, according to NBA insider Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. The Spurs, though, were scared off by the widespread belief that the Los Angeles Lakers would match any offer sheet for Reaves and chose to preserve cap space as a salary dump destination for future draft pick compensation.
Reaves re-signed with the Lakers on a four-year, $56.3 million contract.
“The Spurs considered offering Reaves a restricted free agency sheet worth $21 million per season, league sources told HoopsHype,” Scotto said. “Ultimately, however, the Spurs were scared off by the widespread belief that the Lakers would match any offer sheet for Reaves and chose to preserve cap space as a salary dump destination for future draft pick compensation.
“The Rockets were also closely monitoring Reaves’ situation because they were prepared to make a big offer sheet if Fred VanVleet didn’t sign with them, sources said.”
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Austin Reaves, Los Angeles Lakers & San Antonio Spurs Updates
Reaves averaged 13.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 3.4 assists last season while shooting 52.9% from the field, 39.8% from beyond the arc and 86.4% from the free-throw line. The 25-year-old took his game to another level in the 2023 NBA playoffs, averaging 16.9 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.6 assists in 16 games versus the Memphis Grizzlies, Golden State Warriors and Denver Nuggets.
An anonymous member of the Lakers told Keith Smith of Spotrac that re-signing Reaves was the team’s “top priority.”
“Getting Austin Reaves signed was our top priority,” the anonymous Lakers member said. “Was there a worry we’d have to match an offer sheet? Absolutely. He’s a good player and he could fit on any team. But we were prepared to match any kind of offers Austin got. We weren’t going to lose him over money.”
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Austin Reaves, Los Angeles Lakers & San Antonio Spurs Updates
The Lakers are expected to start D’Angelo Russell, Reaves, Rui Hachimura, LeBron James and Anthony Davis next season. Los Angeles got swept by Denver in the 2023 conference finals but improved its roster this summer. General manager Rob Pelinka added Gabe Vincent, Taurean Prince, Cam Reddish and Jaxson Hayes in NBA free agency.
Reaves has career averages of 10.2 points and 2.6 assists with the Lakers. He developed a good rapport with James and Davis last season and the Lakers are going to put the ball in his hands more often moving forward, sources told NBA Analysis Network.
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