Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves is headed toward a lucrative offseason, and league sources told ESPN’s Tim Bontemps the Brooklyn Nets could mount a serious bid for the 27-year-old when free agency opens.
Reaves is coming off his strongest NBA campaign, averaging a career-best 23.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.5 assists while shooting 49.0% from the field and 36.0% from three-point range. He earned $13.9 million this season, making him one of the league’s top values.
Because Reaves will be an unrestricted free agent, the Lakers cannot simply match offers and will need to negotiate a new contract to retain him. The Nets are projected to have up to $42 million in salary-cap space—enough to offer a four-year deal worth roughly $180 million, the maximum available to Reaves under current cap projections.
Los Angeles has privately signaled a willingness to spend to keep Reaves, according to multiple reports, and the guard has publicly indicated he is comfortable in purple and gold. However, Brooklyn’s ability to present a max-level offer gives Reaves additional leverage during talks with the Lakers.
Reaves joined Los Angeles as an undrafted free agent in 2021 and has developed into a borderline All-Star across five seasons. His performance has earned praise from former teammate Anthony Davis, now with the Washington Wizards. During a recent episode of the podcast “Foul Play,” Davis said Reaves is the player he misses most from his time in Los Angeles, calling the guard “my guy.”
The Lakers and Nets can officially begin negotiations with Reaves once the NBA free-agency moratorium lifts this summer.
Source: Lakers Nation
