Free-agent position rankings: Point guards | Shooting guards | Small forwards | Power forwards | Centers | Big Board
NBA free agency just got extra boring (outside of a certain 41-year-old future Hall of Famer who hasn’t decided the status of his 24th professional season).
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With Trae Young off the board after agreeing to re-sign with the Washington Wizards for $212 million over four years, Austin Reaves was the next chip to track.
Well, not anymore.
Reaves — who really broke out this season for the Lakers, averaging 23.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.5 assists — has decided to remain in Los Angeles to the tune of $185 million over four years.
Reaves, who is close to teammate Luka Dončić, might not be the best theoretical fit next to the Slovenian superstar, but that could be solved later now that he’s under contract.
Of course, we’ll have to see if Reaves can live up to an average salary of more than $46 million, which is a significant piece of cheddar for a second option who might actually be best as a third banana.
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For the Lakers, however, they secure his services and avoid losing him in free agency, which has to be considered a win, given the uncertainty of LeBron James‘ future in California.
From a basketball perspective, if the Lakers genuinely view Reaves as a long-term piece, it’s crucial they make a strong effort to further develop his off-ball game to optimize the overall impact of Dončić.
Reaves is, primarily, a shot-creator who likes to initiate the pick-and-roll and has a knack for generating shots close to the rim while drawing fouls. That often occupies the same area in which Dončić operates, so identifying more ways to integrate them together should be a big key for the Lakers moving forward.
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In the past three years, the Lakers have been eliminated in the first round twice and in the second round once (last season). At some point, the front office needs to get serious about building a legitimate contender.
Reaves is 28 and entering his sixth NBA season. The time is now for the Lakers to construct a contender around Dončić’s immense gifts and utilize the common skill sets of their star duo. Because if not, they’re just wasting everyone’s time.
