REPORTS: Lakers’ Austin Reaves might command more money than Alex Caruso in free agency
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Austin Reaves
Austin Reaves has found himself to be an important part of the Lakers rotation this season. According to some recent reports, he has earned himself a payday for his play. In fact, if these reports are to be believed, he will make more money than former laker Alex Caruso.
Caruso signed a 4-year/$36.98 million contract with the Chicago Bulls in the offseason of 2021. It was one of a series of bizarre moves made by the Lakers front office in the process of dismantling the core of the 2020 championship team. The Athletic’s Jovan Buha recently said this on the Late Night Lake Show on YouTube; “From what I’ve heard on that, it’s going to be more than Caruso money, that’s for sure. It’s going to be double digits.”
According to Caruso himself, the Lakers wouldn’t even match what he got from the Bulls despite Caruso being a restricted free agent in 2021 and they just let him walk free. Since joining, he has become a sort of cult hero among Bulls fans as part of a ferocious defensive backcourt duo with Lonzo Ball (well at least until Ball was fit, the duo’s defensive prowess helped them maintain the #1 seed in the East).
The Lakers have cheaped out on an important role player before, it certainly isn’t out of question to think they might do it again. However, the Lakers are projected to have the necessary amount of cap space to pay Reaves the kind of salary he might command on the open market.
The Lakers can retain Reaves. The question is, should they?
Austin Reaves has averaged 10.6 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in 34 games this season. He is one of the Lakers’ most efficient shooters with an FG% of 49.2% and a 3P% of 36.1%. You would think with those numbers, a player like this is indispensable to a team with LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
The truth is, the Lakers are an objectively bad basketball team. Trading everyone and rebuilding is a possibility that they should explore. Add to that the fact that he may very well cost upwards of $10 million annually. A decision to keep him won’t make sense financially if the front office does decide to rebuild.
There is of course a counter-argument to that. Russell Westbrook’s mammoth contract comes off the payroll after this season. The Lakers might see next offseason as the last chance to build a contender around LeBron in his twilight years. That opportunity is why they may choose to pay important role players like Austin Reaves.
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