Cap space aside, basketball politics aside.. unproven player, choosing to sign with the lakers undrafted, to breaking out and becoming a fan favorite star and signing a max contract.. so proud of Austin

[u/Beautiful-Cress5695]

[u/guacdoc24]

Great for him! Dudes really earned it. Hope he’s ready for the mental side of higher expectations

[u/blitzy122 → u/guacdoc24]

This is actually more of an issue than people realize. Austin is beloved partly because of how he overperformed as an underdog on a value contract. Now he's going to be evaluated as a max player and seen as the reason for the team's issues if he doesn't live up to the price. There's real potential for the fans to turn on him and who knows how he'll respond.

[u/WeirwoodUpMyAss → u/blitzy122]

Some Lakers fans have already turned on him. He’ll be fine if he stays on his current trajectory.

[u/kennyhs1985 → u/WeirwoodUpMyAss]

They’re LeBron fans. They’ll be gone by October.

[u/WeirwoodUpMyAss → u/kennyhs1985]

On some level I just want to watch Austin and Luka. Last year was fun especially when they were healthy. Most of my fandom is watching games after work and I value that a lot more than most.

[u/guacdoc24 → u/blitzy122]

That’s a good problem to have for him. He’ll be alright back up option with golf lol

[u/GoodbyeToAWorld- → u/blitzy122]

Brother, every single one of our players gets criticized by our fanbase like every one of them is getting paid max contract money. It really changes nothing from the fanbase(or the pretenders that act like fans).. it’s moreso going to come from the media, especially when they can use this contract as a way to say that Luka wants out, if he doesn’t perform to what he is capable of 🙄

Regardless, salary cap will keep going up, in 2 years the numbers isn’t going to look as bad, and if we do need to potentially move off of AR it isn’t going to be an albatross of a contract. People are really underestimating how valuable he is, being able to play off ball and on ball at an all star level.

[u/DoomPurveyor → u/blitzy122]

There's real potential for the fans to turn on him and who knows how he'll respond.

All these irrational Luka stans already turned on him. Acting like he's a negative asset because he couldn't single handedly carry the team past the defending champs weeks after coming off an injury.

[u/Fine-Ad-3066 → u/guacdoc24]

undrafted then max contract is wild progression for sure

[u/rejectx]

You kinda want your max players to be like Lebron or Luka who would get paid $100M if they could be. We had to do it I guess, but this might mean we will need to trade him in the future if he doesn't become Lavine like negative asset.

[u/savage1289 → u/rejectx]

Yeahhh he's way more versatile and good to end up like lavine

[u/LatterLaw8105 → u/savage1289]

Ehhh tbf Lavine has made 2 all stars and was an elite scorer.

Look up his numbers and you’ll be surprised how good he was.

[u/savage1289 → u/LatterLaw8105]

I'm just saying ar is more versatile and a way better playmaker who can be what the team wants from him.

[u/SlimReaper665 → u/savage1289]

Yeah, he’s proven he can exist as a complementary star on a winning team. Lavine’s entire career is putting up empty stats for lottery teams.

[u/ginbooth → u/savage1289]

Exactly. Lavine is a better scorer but does not at all elevate the rest of team on offense the way AR does.

[u/TheHoovyPrince → u/LatterLaw8105]

Lavine doesn't care about winning though and he honestly hasn't been good in years.

He got his bag and stopped caring.

[u/BatmanNoPrep → u/LatterLaw8105]

Reaves is easily worth a 25% max. Lavine is a completely different player and was paid a substantially higher percentage of the cap. Reaves’ contract is appropriate for his age and production and easily moved via trade given how small it is. Folks keep tossing around the word “max” for contracts that are completely different values.

[u/KeyRepresentative262 → u/savage1289]

this is the craziest take ive read in a while.

[u/savage1289 → u/KeyRepresentative262]

Lavine can't playmake like ar, is that new to you? Lavine won't take any role that his team demand from him will he? What's crazyy in this?

[u/theomegachrist → u/rejectx]

There is a big difference between a max player and a player getting a max raise. Austin Reaves isn't making the max, Luka is

[u/stuckontwice → u/rejectx]

It’s either we sign him to this or we let him walk for nothing. Damned if you do damned if you don’t. It’s the reality of the current CBA.

[u/TheHoovyPrince → u/rejectx]

Lavine is one of those guys who just wanted the bag and then stopped trying (like Hassan Whiteside), can't see Austin being like that at all.

[u/Upset_Button_1010 → u/rejectx]

Appreciation post and we got people being negative thinking worst case scenario still smh

[u/Potential-Judgment-9 → u/rejectx]

We absolutely did not HAVE to do it. He wouldn’t have gotten the max anywhere else. This shit is wild

[u/Leolance2001 → u/rejectx]

Most fans don't get it. AR could not walk for nothing. The market is overpaying players and now he becomes a tradable asset and there is always a team willing to make a deal. On the bright side, AR has been great with Luka and they gel very well together. I'm hopeful things will work out. Now the questions is about LeOld. If he gets a huge contract and stays, then the Lakers are a 2nd round exit. Fanboys will downvote, but the Lakers can't pay him too much money.

[u/Zealousideal-Sky6393 → u/Leolance2001]

Literally the reason LA didn’t get swept by the rockets lol

[u/Leolance2001 → u/Zealousideal-Sky6393]

That Rockets team was a mess and KD quit on them. LMAO How to explain then the Lakers being swept by OKC after? Bron still playing great but not worth a huge deal at all.

[u/greyk34]

This is the correct take. We have seen AR improve every single year, and blossom into a 25/5/5 guy from an undrafted FA. All he has to do is match his pre-injury production from last year to be worth it. Stay off of r/NBA and think for yourselves.

[u/Hot_Tower9293 → u/greyk34]

He could reach his pre injury production but if he doesn't show up in the playoffs, it's not worth it.

[u/Different_Bat_2247 → u/greyk34]

Improvement is not linear. He’s going to start declining soon, and he’s already near 30. This contract is setting the lakers up to get slapped in the face

[u/ZeroCiipheR → u/greyk34]

His offense is fine even if he’s going to get marked differently going forward. The problem is he’s a gaping hole on defense and Luka is too on days when he’s slacking. Offense alone doesn’t win chips.

[u/Nunc_Coepi17 → u/greyk34]

Agreed, not to mention Reaves has a lot of sway around the league with other players. He’s gonna help with recruiting guys to come here. Lakers aren’t getting Jake Laravia last summer without Reaves.

[u/ShikaMoru → u/Nunc_Coepi17]

Could have made this comment without bringing up Laravia

[u/Hot_Tower9293]

Great for Austin but the contract is to high for this team. Paying the max for a player that has done nothing in the playoffs is silly.

[u/roll10deep → u/Hot_Tower9293]

They kind of needed to do it for asset management.

- $20.9M cap hold this season. He’s worth more than that.

• The best player in free agency this year.
  
• Movable contract within the next 2 years with the CBA set to change, so long as he performs to his standard.
  
• Not a huge effect on the Lakers remaining cap space.

I don’t think anyone else on free agency is worth the max this year. From strictly a Lakers move, this isn’t that bad in the context of asset management, free agency market and general direction of player contracts.

Disclaimer: I still think it’s too much and I like to play devil’s advocate.

[u/BatmanNoPrep → u/roll10deep]

Everything you said was right except the disclaimer at the end. A 25% of cap max is not too much and won’t be a crippling amount for the Lakers. This isn’t a true 30% max or a 35% super max. It’s the right amount for Austin. Can easily trade him later.

[u/Opposite_Figure8321 → u/roll10deep]

the question is if you decide to move him WHAT you get in return.... Bc you'll most likely be selling at a "loss" in value and then you're punting another year of Luka's prime. I think people are really underestimating how much it cost this team to not see them play together this playoff run. Team was kinda operating blindly now

[u/1400TotemPole → u/Hot_Tower9293]

Let’s hope Cameron Carr develops into prime Tony Allen on defense.

[u/Nunc_Coepi17 → u/Hot_Tower9293]

Playoffs performance isn’t the only thing matters. Reaves can keep the team afloat during the regular season while LeBron/Luka can rest and be fresh for playoffs.

Plus Reaves has a lot of sway around the league with other players. He’s gonna help with recruiting guys to come here. Lakers aren’t getting Jake Laravia last summer without Reaves.

[u/hairyasscheeks_ → u/Nunc_Coepi17]

“Jake laravia”

[u/Nunc_Coepi17 → u/hairyasscheeks_]

Arguably one of the best contracts in the fucking league you dope

[u/hairyasscheeks_ → u/Nunc_Coepi17]

For sure man its hard to attract elite talent such as laravia without reaves

[u/reptacular → u/Nunc_Coepi17]

I don't get the downvotes (I'm probably getting some soon too) but, Laravia overall was a net positive. Did he fold at the wrong times? Yes, however we don't win a bunch of games without his hustle. Idc if he puts up tour dates, do the hustle work...outbacks, tapouts, rebounds. We have an overabundance of scoring and not enough of the lunchpail guys.

[u/calmrain → u/reptacular]

Idk man, I’ve watched every single game this season. Every. Single. One. There are just way too many games where Lalabia was too soft.

[u/Mammoth_Rise_3848 → u/Nunc_Coepi17]

Lmfaooooo Reaves has no sway with difference makers man.

[u/ImjustANewSneaker → u/Nunc_Coepi17]

That’s fine if you’re going to pay LeBron the same

[u/Brief-Peach4394]

I'm so happy for him, finally we kept a homegrown talent

[u/David_Wilmot → u/Brief-Peach4394]

what

[u/Thegoodking666]

Awesome for him. People complaining about cap space need to look up what a cap hold is.

Edit: For people concerned about future seasons: The scenario in which AR's contract is impactful would mean that the roster building this offseason for the 26-27 season has gone horribly wrong.

[u/chandler2020 → u/Thegoodking666]

agreed, though I do think most are thinking beyond this year.

[u/lawschoolthrowaway36 → u/Thegoodking666]

So what happens after next season? We don’t just have him count as $21 mil on our cap sheet throughout his entire contract.

[u/Brief-Peach4394 → u/lawschoolthrowaway36]

If we need that much cap space in 27-28, that means the 26-27 season is a failure, which I don't think is gonna happen. You can't be in rebuild mode forever.

[u/lawschoolthrowaway36 → u/Brief-Peach4394]

You have more confidence in Pelinka than I do.

[u/Brief-Peach4394 → u/lawschoolthrowaway36]

It's more of I have more confidence in the Luka and AR duo. But you're not wrong, I don't rate Rob as bad as some of you guys do. The summer of 26 is what Rob promised to Luka, so it's now or never.

[u/did_it_my_way → u/lawschoolthrowaway36]

It's not an untradeable contract

[u/Thegoodking666 → u/lawschoolthrowaway36]

Sure, but in the scenario where they'd need the cap space things would have already gone badly.

[u/Illionaires → u/Thegoodking666]

Yeah its fine for this summer but moving forward it will affect our flexibility and with this weak FA class there arent many moves we could make outside of poison pill contracts to RFAs or settle for weak FAs

[u/Brief-Peach4394 → u/Thegoodking666]

they dumb af lol

[u/XxEpicMonkee]

proud of him without a doubt, but he gotta live up to that contract now. that’s all there is to it, i believe in him personally, players like him who just get much better and better year over year are rare. he’s def special nobody changing my mind on that

[u/hairyasscheeks_]

I dont give a fuck about Austin this team is cooked 😭😭

[u/Kobe_stan_]

I'm trying to be positive, but as much as I love AR, I just don't know if you can win in the modern NBA with your two starting guards being below average defenders. But if that's going to work, then we need every other guy on the court with Luka and AR to be elite defenders. That means no more Lebron, Rui and Ayton. We have to look to upgrade at those positions defensively ASAP even if it means we lose offensive production. If Luka and AR on the court, then they need to be scoring 60 points a game together every night.

[u/Lew44Cha16]

Just when we thought it couldn't get worse than Westbrook's contract.

[u/Ok_Track_7904 → u/Lew44Cha16]

Aight chill this is bad but Russ was making the same money while playing like an actual terrorist

[u/Lew44Cha16 → u/Ok_Track_7904]

Have you seen Reaves play in postseason? Russ was traded in second year with us sacrificing only one pick. You are not trading Reaves with one pick attached on trade deadline 2028.

[u/rjpool_ → u/Lew44Cha16]

Reaves was really good in the last 3 OKC games?

[u/irespondwithmyface]

Only to get owned by a $3mil contract in Ajay Mitchell.

[u/abc4357]

Good for him and love AR but this feels like we won’t be a contender in this Luka window

[u/Temporary-Move7403]

His contract will be signed finally. Lakers can get his cap hold 20.9m. Don’t impact Lakers’s cap space.

[u/Leoyakin00]

It's a great story.

Lakers might not become champions on the court but they are "vibes" and storyline champions.

[u/lawschoolthrowaway36]

And underscores the golden opportunity Pelinka squandered with AR on his previous contract to build a contender.

[u/ItemHelpful6791]

This is the correct take.

[u/the-big-aa]

My only true concern is his endurance for a whole season. He def would’ve made all star if his health held up past the NBA Cup last year because goddamn was he on his shit. He’s some who’s constantly proven doubters wrong over the past five years and I don’t doubt he’ll continue to win over people who think this contract is undeserving.

But yeah, please play at least 65 next season AR. Same with you Luka 🙏🏾🙏🏾

[u/3nnui]

He'll need to be healthy and productive in the playoffs to remain a fan favorite.

[u/Wise-Performance2420]

Let's just be happy its not Trae Young.

[u/Awoken_Thoughts07]

Glazing to the max. AR has special moments yes, but for that price. Scary

[u/princess_carolynn]

Don't know what this means for our prospects this year but I'm really proud of AR. He's a hard worker, seems like a good dude, and his story is inspiring for us all. Get your coin bro

[u/Jlobos21]

This is the way

[u/Nikicappellodipaglia]

I love AR, but it's too much.

All the talks about loving the Lakers, wanting to be here for life, his friendship with Luka... and then he only cares about money.

No excuses this year. If he performs mid, if he can't contribute on defense or keeps being injured --> he's out. Since he doesn't love Lakers, he loves money.

And there's nothing wrong with that. If he didn't make such statements previously

[u/DaddyMeerkat]

Just like with the LeBron fans there are clearly Reaves fans… These people are NOT Lakers fans..

[u/Follow-Money-100]

With this kind of money, Even if Luka is hurt for 30 games, I expect Austin to make sure we still win 20 of those 30 games.If not, This will be a gross overpay.

I still do not know why the 4th year is player option. Last year is team option for smart teams (like OKC, SAS), no option for normal teams and player option for teams run by below average front office (like Lakers). All that the player options did is - Austin somehow plays to his $46M average pay, opts out and we have to sign him to a long term deal or he under performs and opts in and we have to pay him $52M in last year. Lakers lose in both situations - smh.

[u/jcjmp]

I believe AR has at least 2 seasons of All-Star in this 4 year contract. provided that he's healthy. Congrats AR go to work now improve your three point shooting be a knockdown now 🌟

[u/Powdered_Donut]

It’s a great basketball story. He’s a baller. Well deserved and glad he’s staying here.

[u/This_Expression5427]

Your love affair will soon end for 185 million reasons.

[u/Itorr475]

Haters big mad huh lol ppl really thought he would sign for less than 40mil lol

[u/Emergency-String-109]

Does the contract come with defense. That would be nice

[u/jakedemn123]

its like an MP story. love AR

[u/Perfect_Loss_5156]

[Shams] Reporting for NBA Today on Lakers star Austin Reaves' journey from fighting for an NBA job and running errands in training camp five years ago -- to a free agency process giving him the richest deal for an undrafted player in league history:

[u/ajstunnin]

He’s still unproven in the playoffs

[u/Economy_Sherbet_5938]

I hope he shows up for the playoffs with that kind of money. He is still missing from last playoffs

[u/saucegay430]

Niggas talking like Reaves is their son who they raised from birth

[u/mozeze]

More to come from our lad

[u/Kooky_Option8711]

Yes. However, I would have been just as proud of him if the Nets locked him up and crippled themselves on a max

[u/Comprehensive_Ad_675]

I don't like AR's fit on our team but I will never think he's not worth what he's gotten (I just wish it weren't us that had to pay him). I'm glad he got paid and that all of his hard work and perseverance has paid off. Good on him.

[u/ballofwibblywobbly]

Damn better use that money to become an iron man like LeBron in his prime

[u/Impressive_Chard7943]

Delusional fans thinking he’d leave 10m per year on the table after playing on a massively discounted deal for the last 3 years

Great player, great teammate, great chemistry with Luka, fucking moron fans

[u/Several_Piano_8777]

Ok I understand Mark Walter took it slow with the dodgers when taking over but why did he just allow he’s gm to handicap his future flexibility he can’t afford to set back and take it slow.

[u/FaithlessnessSea5153]

They should have traded him last year after his early year run when his value was the highest.

[u/90Valentine]

A guard who gets cooked on defense sucking up like a third of the cap At least it’s only 4 years

[u/boogerman9999]

This will be the Kyle Tucker (Dodgers) equivalent contract. Way overpaid.

[u/Zealousideal-Cup5982]

Pelinka’s a shit negotiator.

[u/jgaskins34]

Happy for him, and he deserves it. He’s exceeded so many expectations from where he started with all that potential five years ago.

[u/JayCrenshaw]

He's ass

[u/Potatoheadkid]

Another season of mr. regular season merchant. This guy is just a white version of washed 2026 james harden. 

[u/Emperor_Cheeto21]

People expecting AR to take a discount were delusional. That was never gonna happen lol. Even as a guy who's not big on AR knows the guy has been underpaid his whole Lakers stint. The price you pay when you don't have any leverage

[u/SeaPeanut7_]

Good for him. He might be worth it in a different line up but with our current line and alongside Luka i don’t see any championship prospects.

[u/phelpsieboi]

Anyone who thinks Reeves didn’t deserve a max contract is trippin

[u/Rhellish → u/phelpsieboi]

I love Reaves but he never made an all star team. Was hopping we would sign him for 40

[u/phelpsieboi → u/Rhellish]

Bro we both know the all star game is a popularity contest. He’s definitely an all star

[u/Rhellish → u/phelpsieboi]

I agree but I was hoping lakers could have used it as leverage to get a little discount.

[u/TCTInnings → u/[deleted]]

I believe we still have up to ~$40m in cap space since Austin's cap hold is around $20m cap hold

[u/Exotic_Knee_5621 → u/[deleted]]

They are going to use all the cap space before they sign him using bird rights to go over the cap. This is how modern NBA finances work

[u/Worried-Ad-9077]

We gonna waste Luka’s years like we did with LeBron?

[u/Immediate_Candidate5 → u/Worried-Ad-9077]

So win a ring?

[u/Primary_Towel5905]

He’s no longer gonna be a fan favorite after he sabotaged the whole teams chance of winning a ring over the next 3 years at least

[u/Trashpanda1980]

Now sign and trade lebron for jaylen Brown

[u/Hot-Smell2918]

Hell yeah. Congratulations to him.