The first order of business this offseason for the Los Angeles Lakers was bringing back Austin Reaves. Ultimately, Reaves and L.A. came to terms on four-year, $185 million max contract, which elevates him financially as a second option behind Luka Doncic.
It is a massive commitment from the Lakers, but there have been promising results with the Doncic-Reaves backcourt if the right roster surrounds them. Plenty of opinions have been expressed on whether the Arkansas native was overpaid and worthy of a max contract. Golden State Warriors four-time champion Draymond Green was among them, giving a bit of a warning to Reaves.
“Austin Reaves signed a four-year, $185 [million max deal with the Lakers. Here’s what I will say, I know a lot of people were coming up to me saying, ‘Maybe they’re signing Austin Reaves, so they can trade him later,'” Green said on The Draymond Green Show. “What I will say is when Austin Reaves was making $23 million a year or whatever his last contract was, the value of a player is viewed differently when they’re making $23 million a year as opposed when they’re making $45 million a year. It’s not easy to just move a guy that makes $45 million in a trade, so I don’t think this is just like a, ‘Oh man, let’s sign him so we can get value and we can trade out of him and get other guys.’ What Austin Reaves should be on the alert for is everything’s been peaches and cream, everybody is happy, ‘Ahh man look at him, he’s making $23 million and he’s playing at this level.’ That changes now, the expectation raises tremendously.
“Austin Reaves has had some struggles in the playoffs, you have those struggles making $45 million a year, it’s not viewed the same way when you’re making $23 million a year. I’m just telling you, I know everybody gonna say, ‘He was the second option.’ I’m just telling you when you look at the contracts, the contracts matter and when you’re making $23 [million], you will not catch the same flack as when you’re making $46 [million]. So, I will warn Austin Reaves. Prepare for what’s to come with that, you have to play great now, like at all times. You have to have great playoff series, you’re not allowed to struggle or people will crush you. That’s what happens when you sign these bigger deals and you move up the hierarchy in the NBA, that’s what happens.”
Green makes a great point as Reaves now has to play like a championship-caliber second option to prove that he is worth this new contract.
Presumably, there will be an adjustment period for him with LeBron James now departing Los Angeles. But Reaves has shown he is up for the challenge time and time again, and now will need to do the same.
Austin Reaves breathed sigh of relief after doubting return to Lakers
While a return for the Lakers felt like a no-brainer for Reaves, details came out surrounding contract negotiations with Los Angeles. It was reported that L.A.’s first offer to Reaves was a clear lowball and he felt like he was not going to come to terms on a deal.
Fortunately, Reaves breathed a massive sigh of relief when the Lakers stepped up their offer dramatically to retain him.
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