Many fans of the Los Angeles Lakers were pleasantly surprised when the team re-signed emerging guard Austin Reaves to a four-year contract at slightly under $54 million earlier this month.
Most expected him to receive at least one offer from another team, and that such an offer would get as high as $100 million. In such a case, the Lakers would have been allowed to match the offer, as Reaves was a restricted free agent, but some weren’t sure if they would’ve been able to afford to do so.
The San Antonio Spurs were often mentioned as a team that would go after Reaves. They reportedly wanted to offer the undrafted standout $21 million a year, but the fact Los Angeles planned to match any other offers served as an effective deterrent (h/t Lakers Daily).
Via HoopsHype:
“Lakers guard Austin Reaves recently told All The Smoke on Showtime that the (Houston) Rockets and Spurs were possibilities before he re-signed with the Lakers,” NBA insider Michael Scotto said. “The Spurs considered offering Reaves a restricted free agency sheet worth $21 million per season, league sources told HoopsHype. 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.”
With all of their main core players back and under contract, the Lakers should be even better this coming season merely by establishing better continuity and chemistry during training camp.
