Add The California Post on Google The Lakers managed to re-sign star guard Austin Reaves on a four-year deal worth $185 million.
Re-signing Reaves was one of the Lakers’ biggest priorities during free agency this offseason, and they had to break the bank to get him back.
Reaves’ longtime girlfriend, Jenna Barber, posted a photo of Reaves laying down in what appeared to be disbelief on a golf course in the wake of receiving the deal from Los Angeles.
As if this photo wasn’t proof enough, a June 24 article from ESPN’s Shams Charania conveyed the emotions that Reaves felt upon signing this deal.
“Great relief,” a source close to Reaves told Charania regarding how the star guard felt upon getting this deal.
Perhaps the reason for Reaves’ relief is that he nearly would have had no choice but to join another team, given the offers he was set to receive.
Charania conveyed this with a June 24 X post that noted the Detroit Pistons were planning to offer Reaves a maximum-level salary, which is ultimately what led the Lakers to step up their offer and keep Reaves around, as they were nervous they’d lose him.
Reaves was expected to receive free-agent interest from multiple teams — such as Detroit — on maximum-level salary, so the Lakers stepped up on Wednesday to lock in their homegrown talent. Reaves went from undrafted to a two-way player — to making the Lakers roster and now… https://t.co/gft1J4pThc
Reaves has spent his entire NBA career with the Lakers and clearly considers LA home. That’s why it’s no surprise to see and hear about his relief that the Lakers matched the contract he would have received from other teams including Detroit, thus making his decision to stick around an easy one.
With Reaves now locked down, the big question for the Lakers now regards what LeBron James will do.
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