Austin Reaves has played an exceptional role for the Laker team for the past two seasons. Reaves signed a two-way contract with the Lakers in 2021. His 2-year deal was worth $2.49 million, though the 25-year-old is worth a lot more.
His first season with the Lakers went pretty well, as he had proven his role on the team. The Lakers failed to appear in the postseason in 2022. In Reaves’ second season, his performance improved immensely, and he would go on to be a solid bench player.
Austin averaged 13 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists during the regular season. The Lakers had a pretty successful season this year, as the team made it to the Conference Finals. Reaves was ready to push his team past anyone in the postseason, averaging 17 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists. From being a mere role player on the team to becoming the key to the Lakers’ depth, Reaves has shown his true potential.
Will the Lakers offer Austin Reaves a super-max contract this offseason?
Austin is now a restricted-free agent. So far, the youngster has made around $2.49 million from his contract. With his unexpected slope of improvement in just his first two seasons, Reaves is now worth a super-max contract. The Lakers’ cap hit will allow them to offer Reaves a 4 year, $54 million deal, which is exactly what the team recently did by offering him a 4-year contract worth $53.8 million.
REPORT: The Lakers will match Austin Reaves contract offers up to $100M 😳
(Via @TheAthletic) pic.twitter.com/NIAdqwlf0T
— Lakers All Day Everyday (@LADEig) June 1, 2023
Reaves is a great outside scorer shooting around 40% from beyond the arc on three attempts. He is all about hustle on the floor, giving his best on the defensive end as well. His performance arc has been similar to Jordan Poole, yet Reaves will wait for the upcoming offers.
Considering his potential, Austin can be a great player in the long run for the Lakers. His role on a contender team seems to suit him pretty well. If Reaves has plans to leave the city of Los Angeles, he might as well shift to a team with a consistent playoff record.