The Houston Rockets were prepared to give Austin Reaves a massive offer sheet in restricted free agency if Fred VanVleet didn’t sign with them, according to NBA insider Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. VanVleet wound up signing with the Rockets, so Houston didn’t offer Reaves an offer sheet and the guard re-signed with the Los Angeles Lakers.
VanVleet signed a three-year, $130 million contract with the Rockets on the first day of free agency. Meanwhile, Reaves re-signed with the Lakers on a four-year, $56.3 million contract.
The Rockets entered free agency with the most cap space. They signed VanVleet, Dillon Brooks, Jeff Green, Jock Landale and Aaron Holiday. As for the Lakers, they added Gabe Vincent, Taurean Prince, Cam Reddish and Jaxson Hayes and re-signed Reaves, D’Angelo Russell and Rui Hachimura.
An anonymous member of the Rockets told NBA writer Keith Smith of Spotrac that the franchise views VanVleet as a great “organizer.” Houston thinks VanVleet is going to enhance Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr. and Kevin Porter Jr. in a big way.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Austin Reaves, Fred VanVleet, Houston Rockets & Los Angeles Lakers Updates
“Fred is going to be so great for us as an organizer,” the anonymous member of the Rockets said. “He’ll enhance Jalen, Jabari and Kevin in a big way. Some think Fred and Dillon (Brooks) are going to take reps away from the kids, but we don’t see it that way. They are going to help those guys grow up quicker than they would have otherwise. Same with Jeff Green. We’re excited about getting them in the gym with the young guys.”
Smith also spoke with an anonymous member of the Lakers who said re-signing Reaves was the team’s “top priority.”
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Austin Reaves, Fred VanVleet, Houston Rockets & Los Angeles Lakers Updates
“Getting Austin Reaves signed was our top priority,” the anonymous Lakers member said. “Was there a worry we’d have to match an offer sheet? Absolutely. He’s a good player and he could fit on any team. But we were prepared to match any kind of offers Austin got. We weren’t going to lose him over money.”
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