Lakers Played Austin Reaves Country Music, Gifted Personalized Pillows in Contract Talks, Shams Says

During a meeting to conduct contract negotiations with Austin Reaves, who has since reportedly agreed to terms on a four-year, $185 million extension, the Los Angeles Lakers played country music and even gave the five-year veteran and others in the room personalized pillows with his initials, per ESPN's Shams Charania on Wednesday's edition of NBA Today.

"Shortly after the NBA Finals, Lakers ownership and front office met with Austin Reaves and his agents at the team's practice facility in Los Angeles.

"And it was in a private event room, and they had all of the personal touches for Austin Reaves in this meeting. They played his favorite country music. They had personalized AR initialed pillows for Austin Reaves and everyone else that was in attendance.

"That's all nice though, it's nice to get AR initialed pillows for yourself, but it all comes down to the money. And so how did that happen today where it's four years, $185 million max contract for Austin Reaves?

"I'm told over the last 24-48 hours, the Lakers came to the understanding that Austin Reaves had multiple max contracts available to him in free agency if he hit the market on July 1.

"One of those teams, the Detroit Pistons, were coming aggressively for him. So, that's why today the Lakers stepped up to give him this deal, four years, $185 million. He becomes the richest player ever to sign a contract at this level for an undrafted player in NBA history."

Reaves just averaged 23.3 points on 49.0 percent shooting (36.0 percent from three), 5.5 assists and 4.7 rebounds in 34.5 minutes per game. He played 51 contests in injury-shortened season due to a strained left calf and a Grade 2 left oblique strain.

The 28-year-old has represented a tremendous success story after entering the league as an undrafted free agent with the Lakers in 2021. He's steadily improved over the years to the point where he became the team's second-leading scorer this year.

Outside Reaves, the Lakers have some questions. For starters, it's unknown whether four-time NBA MVP LeBron James, an impending free agent, will be back in the mix.

It's also unclear what the Lakers will do at center, especially with Deandre Ayton potentially declining his player option to become a free agent.

However, the Lakers checked off a big offseason box by re-signing Reaves and teaming him alongside Luka Dončić. Reaves is now in town through at least 2029 (he holds a player option for 2029-30) on a big contract.

After that deal, Reaves can certainly sleep well on the team's gifted personalized pillows, and the Lakers can rest a little easier now too as they traverse through the rest of the offseason.