Sources – Lakers, Austin Reaves agree to 4-year max extension
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Dave McMenamin, ESPN staff writer
The Los Angeles Lakers have agreed to a maximum extension with restricted free agent Austin Reaves, sources told ESPN.
Reaves’ new contract starts at $12.4 million next season and includes an 8% salary increase per season, bringing it to $56 million over four years, sources said.
The 6-foot-1 guard had a breakthrough in his second season in the league, flirting with a 50/40/90 shooting average and 13 points, 3 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game.
In the last 11 games of the Lakers regular season, which were targeting a play-in tournament, Reaves averaged 19.8 points and 6.1 assists while shooting 58% from the field. LA took a 9-2 lead and finished 7th in the Western Conference.
The 25-year-old Reaves continued that performance into the playoffs, averaging 16.9 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.6 assists while starting in all 16 postseason games during LA’s run to the Western Conference Finals.
Reaves was not drafted by Oklahoma in 2021. He was originally signed by the Lakers on a two-way contract in the summer before his contract was converted to a guaranteed roster spot just before training camp.
Reaves’ tie-up was part of the plan that Rob Pelinka, the Lakers’ vice president of basketball operations and general manager, laid out to reporters ahead of the team’s exit interviews, stating, “I would put it very clearly: our intention is to to keep our core young people.” Boys together.”
To that end, the Lakers have been busy early in free agency, agreeing deals Friday with Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent, Taurean Prince and Cam Reddish. On Saturday, the team also agreed to deals with D’Angelo Russell and Jaxson Hayes before keeping Reaves.
