New Lakers Rumors Reveal Surprise Team Eyeing Austin Reaves Max Contract, More Landing Spots

The Los Angeles Lakers might have to offer free agent guard Austin Reaves at least $40 million per year in order to beat out rival teams in the race to re-sign him this summer.

The Athletic's Dan Woike reported that multiple NBA front office sources expect the Brooklyn Nets to offer Reaves a four-year, $178.5 million max contract.

The Nets are projected to have the second-most cap room in the NBA with almost $78 million in tax space next season, per Spotrac.

Woike also named the Detroit Pistons and Atlanta Hawks as "interested teams that can create space to make competitive offers."

"The money Reaves will get in unrestricted free agency this summer is predicted by rival executives to exceed $40 million annually," Woike reporte

Woike and The Athletic's Sam Amick previously reported in May the Utah Jazz also had some interest in Reaves.

"League sources say winning will be a significant factor in Reaves' thinking," Woike reported in May.

The Lakers could theoretically outbid any team for Reaves, who could receive a max five-year, $241 million deal should he stay in Los Angeles.

Los Angeles is also heading into the offseason needing to re-sign or replace players including LeBron James, Rui Hachimura, Jaxson Hayes, Luke Kennard and Maxi Kleber.

A five-year deal would also restrict the Lakers' flexibility to build in the future around Luka Dončić, around whom general manager Rob Pelinka said he plans on retrofitting his roster going forward.

Reaves is expected to decline his $14.9 million player option for next season by the June 29 deadline.

He is looking to cash in after posting a career-high 23.3 points per game last season while also averaging 4.7 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 1.1 steals in 51 games and 45 starts for the Lakers.

Should Reaves and James both depart in free agency, the Lakers could lose two of the team's top three scorers from last season.

If a team like the Nets ultimately wins the bidding war for Reaves, Pelinka would be tasked with finding a way to fill in for Reaves' missing production while also finding a new backcourt partner for Dončić this offseason.