The Los Angeles Lakers face a big task this summer in terms of not only upgrading their roster enough but also keeping enough of their current players. Several of their key men can or will become free agents later this month, beginning with LeBron James and, in all likelihood, Austin Reaves.
Reaves is expected to opt out of his contract and seek a new one that could pay him as much as $241 million over five years should he choose to stay with the Lakers. He has made it clear he wants to remain with them, but the math could get very complicated as far as paying everyone enough money to keep them satisfied enough.
NBA reporter Sam Amick went on the “Run It Back” podcast and was asked to give the odds on a scale of 1 to 10 of both stars staying with the Purple and Gold for next season (h/t Lakers Daily).
“Probably a six if we’re talking about both,” Amick said. “The Austin one, I think it’s done. Man, it’s just like it’s hard.”
There have been rumblings that Reaves will be pursued by multiple other teams, most notably the Brooklyn Nets. Brad Turner, a reporter with the Los Angeles Times, recently said that Reaves will be seeking a max contract.
Amick also said that paying Reaves what he’s worth could cause James to leave and join the Golden State Warriors, one of the other teams the 41-year-old is reportedly considering joining.
“I think if Austin gets paid in the kind of way that keeps him in town, then there’s not enough money for LeBron to feel respected, and then I could see him going up the coast and maybe doing the Warriors thing,” Amick said. “So I feel like there’s just not enough money to make all those guys happy with the Lakers.”
Reaves had a stellar season with averages of 23.3 points and 5.5 assists a game, but some have concerns about his durability after he appeared in just 51 games due to multiple injuries. He sustained an oblique strain on April 2 that sidelined him until Game 5 of the first round of the playoffs, and from that point on, his production was up and down, continuing a trend from the past couple of postseasons.
A bigger concern with Reaves is his relative lack of athleticism and defense. There are some who feel Los Angeles should simply swing a sign-and-trade involving him in order to balance out its roster and address its weaknesses.
Forward Rui Hachimura, guard Luke Kennard and center Jaxson Hayes will also become free agents this summer, and the Lakers want to keep all of them if possible. In addition, starting center Deandre Ayton and veteran guard Marcus Smart have player options for next season.
James made $52.6 million this season, and the Lakers almost certainly won’t offer him a similar amount for next season. He may very well have to accept less money than Reaves will get paid, whether he wants to stay in Southern California or head up to the San Francisco Bay Area.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Reporter says big Austin Reaves deal could result in LeBron leaving
Reporting by Robert Marvi, LeBron Wire / LeBron Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Robert Marvi, LeBron Wire | USA TODAY Network
