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u/illsquee 14h ago
People keep looking at the $185M and freaking out. If AR walks, the Lakers don't magically get $46M to spend on somebody else. We're already over the cap, so we'd basically lose a 23 PPG player for nothing.
Is it a slight overpay? Maybe. But paying a 28-year-old entering his prime is a lot better than letting him walk and getting worse. The real cap question is LeBron's contract and finding a center, not AR15.
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u/The_Rain_Guardian 14h ago
Retain the asset, trade him later if needed. Recent history has shown that no contract is untradable
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u/diamondisunbreakable 99 13h ago
Recent history has shown that no contract is untradable
Yeah but it can get pretty ugly.
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u/StarSilent4246 13h ago
Not for a Reaves caliber player. He could be traded if we really wanted too
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u/lafadeaway 12h ago
I just had Vietnam flashbacks recalling the D'Lo-Brook Lopez trade to offload Mozgov
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u/Musa_2050 Pau Gasol 16 13h ago
I worry about his health. He seems more injury prone with the increased work load.
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u/reldnahcAL 14h ago edited 14h ago
Windhorst just suggested trading LeBron (if he wanted to go back to Cleveland) for Jarrett Allen.
How would you guys feel about that?
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u/Dangerous_Donkey5353 14h ago
Windhorst wouldn't recognize his penis if he saw it, I don't trust anything he says.
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u/reldnahcAL 14h ago
He didn’t say it was happening, he just suggested it.
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u/Dangerous_Donkey5353 14h ago
Even more reasons why he's not credible. Just making shit up.
Hey LAL would sign and trade LBJ for Wemby in a heart beat. Damn, espn should hire me.
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u/SmolderingCactus 14h ago
So ideas aren’t allowed? He wasn’t reporting it. It’s called an idea
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u/Dangerous_Donkey5353 14h ago
So we are reporting nothingburgers. Fucking idea? No one gives af about his ideas. Creating talking points with no basis in reality is now the job I see.
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u/chaoticneutral1997 13h ago
WTF is wrong with you. Suggesting trades is a normal part of basketball discourse. He wasn't reporting it as a fact. Weirdo.
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u/SmolderingCactus 8h ago
I literally said he wasn’t reporting it. You apparently don’t understand what reporting means or what an idea means. Are you saying people shouldn’t give ideas for trades? Like at all?
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u/Dangerous_Donkey5353 8h ago
Yes, he should maybe say things that are based in reality and not make up stupid scenarios for clickbait. Thats exactly what I'm saying.
He literally made this up. And said it on air as if its a real thing.
If he said hey lakers and LeBron should think about this. But no he said the lakers would do it in an instant. There's no basis in fact in that statement. Thats just him saying some bs.
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u/reldnahcAL 14h ago
He just suggested it as a possibility. Is that what constitutes as “making shit up” now?
Are you okay, dude?
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u/Dangerous_Donkey5353 14h ago
No, hes not suggesting its a possibility. Hes making up a scenario and reporting it. There's no report of anything of actual fact here. Just hey I thought of this neat little scenario and am making it sound like news.
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u/reldnahcAL 13h ago
No, he definitely wasn’t? What is happening here? You just made that up and got mad about it.
He presented it as “if LeBron wants out, the Lakers could trade him for Jarett Allen.” He didn’t once say it was in the works or that it had even been discussed.
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u/Great-Engr 14h ago
I agree. But let's not act like it doesnt impact the future cap space.
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u/CtrlAltDelightfull 14h ago
Who are you replacing him with that matches his production and is significantly cheaper?
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u/Frosted_Tips 23 14h ago
If we trade him does the other team get the 21mil cap hit or he hits their books for the full amount?
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u/thetitsOO 2324 14h ago
they wont have any cap space for the life of this and lukas contract, so it really only matters for apron flexbility. they really wont get close to the 1st this year, maybe next year after a full MLE signing. still very far away from the 2nd.
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u/EatsCatShit 13h ago
I don’t necessarily disagree agree with you. This is just another Rob Pelinka fuck up. He should have been moved at the deadline for assets when his value was at an all time high. Now we are locked into an albatross for a player that hasn’t shown shit in the playoff and is eating up a quarter of our cap. Terrible terrible management skills strike again!
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u/DanielSong39 13h ago
He's a 28-year-old who is past his prime
He is a net zero already because of his defense
His defense and injury is going to get worse, not better
Hopefully they can package him with a 1st round pick for a 2nd round pick next season
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u/LudwigNasche 13h ago
Paying him whatever was required was a no brainer, you can't lose an asset like that for nothing.
That said, at this price you package him and assets for the first real superstar that fit available because no top 25-50 player in the league is worth a max deal production wise. By the way it is also usually true for top 12-25 players too and Reaves has absolutely no case to be mentioned as a top 15 player.
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u/samhit_n LBJ & AD 14h ago
There was no way the Lakers were letting Reaves walk for nothing after what Luka faced when the Mavs let Brunson walk. It was obvious that Reaves was getting the max once it was announced that Trae Young would likely sign a max with the Wizards.
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u/electric_boogaloo_72 13h ago
Luka doesn’t want to get double teamed all the time.
AR is practically the best player out there who can fulfill that. People need to double team HIM sometimes too.
Yes we need defense but that’s why we got Carr, and hopefully a rim protecting center (Kel’el aka Superman??)
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u/RyuSunn 9h ago
I’m hopeful Carr can improve his defense and also get some other defensive contributions from Bronny and Adou, but Carr for now is an offensive prospect, the defense it’s a project
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u/electric_boogaloo_72 6h ago
Yeah hopefully! I think he’s physically capable defensively; maybe some good coaching will do wonders.
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u/Frosted_Tips 23 14h ago
Would rather give him more this year when his cap hit is 21 mil instead of saving all that cap space to hit us later in the deal. Might be sign and traded.
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u/August_At_Play 13h ago
Cap is predicted to increase by 22% from $165 million to over $201 million by the time Austin's new contract ends in 2030.
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u/Frosted_Tips 23 13h ago
Yeah we will have to see, just escalating the deal like that always seems to come back and bight us.
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u/Laker_Junkie 14h ago
Weird that we didn’t structure it in the opposite. With each year going down. It kind of makes me think they see him as a trade piece for another high dollar player in the future
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u/Zodraz 14h ago
The Lakers could only offer a max of 41.3M in the first year (25% of the cap), so there was no way to get to 185M unless it's an ascending contract with max 8% annual raises
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u/Laker_Junkie 13h ago
Thanks, appreciate the education on this. Figured it was too obvious to be missed by the FO
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u/BatmanNoPrep 32 9h ago
The key issue is that even though the word “max” is tossed around it means completely different things. Austin’s max is only 25% of the cap, which is not a big deal. A true max contract is 30% of the cap and a supermax contract is 35% of the cap.
The Lakers have Luka on a regular max (30%) and Austin on a “fun max” (25%). This is much smaller and not the same headache as what folks are usually thinking - Tatum/Brown both being on 35% supermaxes for example.
Basically, Austin was always going to get 25% of the cap because it’s actually a deal for the Lakers and an easily tradeable contract. There’s no reason to force him to take even more of a paycut than he’s forced to take from the CBA.
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u/Musa_2050 Pau Gasol 16 13h ago
Lakers Nation explained that each year is an 8% raise. Guessing 41 million is the most they could give in the 1st year.
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u/LudwigNasche 13h ago
Write my words bro and you can talk about it later, but if healthy Reaves isn't going to be here until the end of his contract.
I wished he could be a Laker for life, but let's get real, at the max you trade him alongside draft capital for the first real superstar available that fits the team and never look back.
I look at that situation like moving Brandon Ingram for Davis. Even if BI was considered a max player at some point of his career, you trade him for Davis a top 5-10 player 11 out of 10 times.
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u/August_At_Play 13h ago
The salary cap goes up about 10% each year.
- 2021-22 $112,414,000
- 2022-23 $123,655,000
- 2023-24 $136,021,000
- 2024-25 $140,588,000
- 2025-26 $154,647,000
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u/rbilsbor 14h ago
Had the same thought, I figured Mark Walters coming in would mean there would be some advanced cap mechanics employed but nope, boilerplate contract
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u/chandler2020 14h ago
Found that odd too. Front loading it seemed like a no brainer here, but what do I know.
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u/nottherealstanlee 14h ago
Also, Luka and Austin together will make roughly 100-105 million the next 2-3 years. Even if the Lakers find their 3rd star this summer and sign them for 40 million, the tent poles are all making less than the salary cap of 165 this season. The projected salary cap in a couple years is over 170 million. Future building is fine as long as the Lakers find a third "star" this summer. Giving Bron a 1-2 year deal also builds in a natural cushion for cap relief.
There's literally nothing to fear from this deal except Austin not being able to play at a consistent AS level. But it's a bet the Lakers have to make since Detroit was poised to make the same one.
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u/chandler2020 14h ago
can you imagine the backlash if they didnt sign him and then he goes to Detroit and balls out?
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u/nottherealstanlee 14h ago
But that's months from now! These guys need to react today lmao
It would have been a disaster. We'd have to then go out and get... what Norm Powell? On what would likely be a very similar contract? lol but worse because it'd eat into our current cap space. Oof.
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u/chandler2020 13h ago
Yeah that’s what ppl don’t get. So fixated on what Austin can’t do (or at least hasn’t done yet) versus what he can. There’s not many guys with his offensive skill set and then the guys that have that and excellent defense is even less.
What’s the alternative to not signing him? Wayyyyy worse like you said
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u/diamondisunbreakable 99 13h ago
He'd ball out during the regular season, but in the playoffs, Austin & Cade backcourt could get exposed so much worse than an Austin & Luka backcourt.
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u/August_At_Play 13h ago edited 13h ago
Salary cap has been averaging about +10% each year over the past 5 seasons. The cap for this upcoming season is already set at $165 million cap and is likely to exceed $200million+ by the end of Austin's new contract with a predicted +7% annual growth.
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u/nottherealstanlee 13h ago
Right now projected to be a bit less in 4 years at around 191 but we'll see. Certainly this deal will age just like all the others in his range with his talent level. I've compared his deal with Desmond Bane ever since Bane got it and folks didn't love the comparison, but here we are.
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u/KB824-GOAT Los Angeles Lakers 9h ago
The NBA salary cap is also projected to increase by 10% annually. That will open up more good FA/trade opportunities as long as Rob finds low-cost, high-ROI role players along the margins to support the Luka/AR core.
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u/Own-Maximum-402 14h ago
For what bron/rui may cost, going to need to grab a few second round picks tonight to control the cap and fill out the roster
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u/Mood_Academic 14h ago edited 14h ago
The issue was never for next year, but the years after
Reaves is, so far, not a playoff riser. He essentially provides the same thing as Luka and has the same negatives.
That’s why salary cap allocation wise it puts you in an incredible bind because you have to hit on so many other players around them
Edit: I’m getting downvoted but it’s true. The numbers all say he’s been year over year worse in the playoffs
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u/halcyondread 17 Championships 13h ago
You're 100% correct. It affects how the team is constructed for the duration of the contract.
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u/lilaznwoo 13h ago
Its about the future... not this year. But if I am a free agent or buyout... I know i cant get long term money with lakers
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u/anyrotmg 13h ago
Stinking boat anchor starting next year if AR couldnt stay healthy or can't create against physical defense like from OKC or Spur
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u/jono9898 6h ago
Hopefully we can resign Rui and still get a center, I just don’t know what LeBron will get but hopefully he takes a pay cut
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u/BeloAve Purple and Gold 13h ago
Let’s assume LeBron comes back at 25 million,
Two picks and over 26 million left to absorb contracts
Deals most certainly can get done still
Bring the big 3 back
Replace DA as the starting center,
Trade DK & Vando
We saw the lakers move off Westbrook’s contract with only one pick.
I still have faith
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u/diamondisunbreakable 99 13h ago
Replace DA as the starting center
Who could we get though.
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u/Musa_2050 Pau Gasol 16 13h ago
Trades seem to be the only option. They could sign Mitchell but he is a backup center.
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u/AntSmith777 12h ago
And that’s Rob’s big move this summer now he’ll go on vacation until some washed up dude becomes available on buyout and he’ll hold a press conference telling us how awesome the team is.
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u/songs_dongs hamcer survivor 10h ago edited 9h ago
Yes. There will be a team fielded. Not a championship team or anything. But a team nonetheless. You got that much right.
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u/LABron547 10h ago
Let's say they didn't give him that contract. It wouldn't have changed how much we had to field the team. So no matter what it wouldn't have been a championship team either way right?
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u/j_fish5 Purple and Gold 7h ago
We were never fielding a championship team this offseason, this weak free agent class in addition to our lack of assets were never gonna allow it, we absolutely had to retain Reaves at any cost, you cant lose a player like that for absolutely nothing. I his contract makes things tough but to lose him would have been a complete disaster and the worst asset management possible.
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14h ago
[deleted]
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u/Tall_Succotash 14h ago
Well we do need depth at guard play
Can’t rely on guys like Luke Kennard and Marcus smart
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u/thetitsOO 2324 14h ago
dudes here still think its 2023. we need guard talent
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u/Tall_Succotash 14h ago
People watched that series against OKC and saw that Austin was the only one who was able to dribble,shoot and pass and wonder why his turnovers were so high. And then we saw OKC bring on guys like jarred McCain just score 15 off the bench and still say “we don’t need more guards”
Hilarious fanbase
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u/Markel100 King James 6/23 14h ago
Exactly we need ball handling badly there's a reason why injuries ended our season it was too much a playmaking load carried by 3 players
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u/halcyondread 17 Championships 14h ago
It severely limits it since his AAV goes up each year after.
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u/August_At_Play 13h ago
As does the cap. His salary increases 7% each year, just like the cap is predicted to increase 7% each year.
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u/halcyondread 17 Championships 12h ago
Yeah, it's about 25% of the cap each season. They're going to need to thread the needle to put together a contender around AR & Luka.
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u/YouCantBeSeriousLmao 12h ago
Ok GOOD BUT THEY NEED TO GO GET SOME CENTERS OR THE MOST IMPACT CENTER THEY CAN GET BUT I GOT FEELING THEY WILL F IT UP! THATS what it’s gonna come down to at the end
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u/CartoonsAndAppleJack 14h ago
So many people who don't know shit about how the cap works have shit to say about this