NBA insider Jovan Buha of The Athletic is reporting that the San Antonio Spurs could be a dark horse team that will try to poach Austin Reaves from the Los Angeles Lakers.
Reaves becomes a restricted free agent this summer. As a restricted free agent, Reaves can either re-sign with the Lakers or sign an offer sheet with another team. Los Angeles can match any offer sheet Reaves signs as long as it comes within 48 hours.
Buha, who covers the Lakers, believes Reaves will be back in Los Angeles.
“The Lakers are going to match any contract offer sheet that he signs up to that $100 million,” Buha said on the HoopsHype podcast. “The Lakers view him as the third-best player on this team if you look at the regular season and postseason he had.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Austin Reaves, Los Angeles Lakers & San Antonio Spurs Updates
“I think the Lakers are going to retain him. Obviously, their preference would be to sign him to the four-year, $54 million deal. I’ve heard that there are going to be multiple suitors out there in talking with people around the league. You mentioned Orlando and Houston. I’ve heard San Antonio could be a dark horse team that will try to poach Austin from the Lakers.
“He’s priority No. 1 for the Lakers this offseason. I think they learned from the Alex Caruso situation. Frankly, I think this would be a bigger disaster than Caruso because Reaves is a better player, and he’s shown more. You mentioned $80 million, and $80-85 million is where teams think the Lakers might have to think about it and maybe call their bluff. Again, from what I’ve heard from the Lakers’ side, they’re matching all the way up to $100 million.”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Austin Reaves, Los Angeles Lakers & San Antonio Spurs Updates
Reaves averaged 13.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 3.4 assists during the regular season and 16.9 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.6 assists in the playoffs. The Lakers got swept by the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals.
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