The Los Angeles Lakers had Austin Reaves at the top of their priority list entering the offseason.
Reaves was expected to fetch a very lucrative deal somewhere else, and the Lakers would be forced to pay up to match any offer he got.
Fortunately for Rob Pelinka, he was able to lock him up at a very reasonable deal, signing him to almost $50 million less than he was expected to get in his next deal.
Notably, Reaves didn’t bat an eye or cry over the spilled milk.
If anything, he showed his excitement about his new deal by sharing a hype video on Instagram, wishing to be a Laker for life.
The Lakers found Reaves as an undrafted free agent, developing him despite being an overlooked and older prospect than most.
He worked his way up the rotation and even played a very significant role in the team’s postseason run.
Reaves became a fan favorite because of his unmatched confidence and never-ending hustle, as well for his timely scoring and ability to take some pressure off LeBron James’ shoulders as a secondary ball-handler and playmaker.
Of course, he might not be a superstar or not even an All-Star, but judging by today’s standards, his contract could still be one of the biggest bargains of the NBA offseason, especially if you look at what guys like Dillon Brooks or Jerami Grant got.
He’ll have an expanded role and even more opportunities to do his thing in 2023 and prove why he was worth every penny.
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Analyst Says The Lakers Have Not Closed The Gap With Nuggets