NBA Exec Explains Why the Nets Should Give Lakers' Austin Reaves 'All the Money' in FA

One NBA team executive lobbied for the Brooklyn Nets to make an aggressive play for Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves next summer.

"AR's a stud," said the exec, who works for an Eastern Conference team, in an interview with ESPN's Dave McMenamin. "If I were the Brooklyn Nets, I would throw all the money at him. He has shown when he gets the keys to the engine, he can produce."

Reaves has a $14.9 million player option for 2026-27, and he's playing his way into a salary that far exceeds that. Through eight games, he's averaging 30.3 points on 48 percent shooting along with 5.1 rebounds and nine assists.

AUSTIN REAVES DOMINATES

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Bobby Marks of ESPN noted Reaves can earn up to $241 million over five years on a max extension from the Lakers. Any other team can table a four-year, $178.5 million offer.

Even assuming his scoring regresses a bit over the course of the season, the 27-year-old is going to have a robust market. The fact he'll be an unrestricted free agent also sets him apart from others in his general tier.

The Nets are projected to have just under $11 million in available salary cap space next year, per Spotrac. They'll be $91.5 million away from the first apron of the luxury tax, though, and they can give themselves a lot more flexibility if they flip Michael Porter Jr. and his $40.8 million expiring salary.

In short, Brooklyn can plausibly be a major player for Reaves, and the franchise might be motivated to start winning again once the offseason arrives. With a 1-9 record, the team is on pace to miss the playoffs for a third straight year, and this one could be the most frustrating of the stretch.

Signing Reaves wouldn't automatically make the Nets a title contender, but his arrival would undoubtedly improve the roster. The move would also signal a broad shift in the front office's priorities.