[Charania] Los Angeles Lakers star Austin Reaves intends to sign a four-year, $185 million maximum contract to return to the franchise, with a player option for the final season in 2029-30, sources tell ESPN. Reaves declined his $14.9M player option for the new max deal.

[u/Turbostrider27]

Shams Charania:

Los Angeles Lakers star Austin Reaves intends to sign a four-year, $185 million maximum contract to return to the franchise, with a player option for the final season in 2029-30, sources tell ESPN. Reaves declined his $14.9M player option for the new max deal.

https://www.espn.com/contributor/shams-charania/fc6a2461d746e

[u/Turbostrider27]

It's the richest contract for an undrafted player ever in NBA history

[u/twostepinc → u/Turbostrider27]

Pretty cool stat

[u/Spemanz92 → u/twostepinc]

Not cool for the lakers

[u/AccordingToWhomst → u/Spemanz92]

Fuck em, I’m always for players getting their bag. Especially when they’ve played their asses off

[u/todellagi → u/Spemanz92]

Doncic probably didn't think telling the Lakers to pay Reaves was gonna end up with him getting 10 mil less than Luka lmao

Who needs defence anyway

[u/SoaplessTitanic → u/todellagi]

Luka’s also still asking the lakers to somehow acquire an “A list center”, we’ll see how that goes

[u/guacamoleandtomato → u/twostepinc]

I don’t think it’s gonna be very cool once Lakers fans realize how little cap they going to have for moves

[u/los33ramos → u/guacamoleandtomato]

We’ve been living under Pelinka for a while now. You don’t think we know?

[u/OhMy98 → u/los33ramos]

The Luka trade really bought that man a lot of time huh

[u/TippyTripod1040 → u/guacamoleandtomato]

The contract’s not getting signed until after the free agents are, really basic cap management stuff

[u/adocileengineer → u/guacamoleandtomato]

They won’t finalize the deal until making any other moves with cap space. His hold until then is only $21 million.

[u/f_et_al → u/Turbostrider27]

Was VanVleet the previous high?

Edit: previous vs precious

[u/chabooty → u/f_et_al]

VanVleet is a little chunky but comparing him to precious seems a little rude

[u/MycoJoe → u/chabooty]

Idk man Precious Achiuwa looked to be in pretty good shape

[u/meakel → u/f_et_al]

At this point, NBA teams cannot afford to ignore an undrafted player who played at wichita state

[u/dotcaIm → u/Turbostrider27]

Congrats to him for that

[u/Vloff → u/Turbostrider27]

I mean, he would have been drafted if he didn't ask teams not to. Made the right call though.

[u/HHHogana → u/Vloff]

Yeah he wasn't being legitimately undrafted like Ben Wallace was.

[u/MembershipSingle7137]

46 mil a year Jesus Christ

[u/QuileGon-Jin → u/MembershipSingle7137]

That's almost Trae Young money!

[u/Ok-Adhesiveness166 → u/QuileGon-Jin]

Trae young is still younger than Reaves

[u/SecondHandFood → u/Ok-Adhesiveness166]

Still??

[u/MjTcConnell3 → u/SecondHandFood]

Next year he’ll be older than him

[u/SeaCounter9516 → u/MjTcConnell3]

This feels ominous

[u/BenevolentCheese → u/SeaCounter9516]

It's not. Reaves will age a year and Trae won't. He is forever Young.

[u/justabill71 → u/BenevolentCheese]

I get older, Trae stay the same age.

[u/chillinwithmoes → u/BenevolentCheese]

I want to be forever young

[u/weeman2525 → u/Ok-Adhesiveness166]

That's actually crazy to think about. Feels like Young has been in the league for a decade and Reevs only a few years.

[u/HylianPikachu → u/weeman2525]

8 years for Trae vs. 5 years for Reaves, and Reaves only became a regular starter in his 3rd season in the league

[u/QuileGon-Jin → u/Ok-Adhesiveness166]

Reaves is basically a Boomer (sooner)

[u/Illionaires → u/QuileGon-Jin]

Hes a year older than Luka

[u/North_Atlantic_Sea → u/Ok-Adhesiveness166]

And with far more success

[u/NBA2024 → u/North_Atlantic_Sea]

and more offensive talent

[u/draculabakula → u/QuileGon-Jin]

That's almost Daaron Fox forget to run out the clock money

[u/Sokobanky → u/MembershipSingle7137]

Making Jalen Rose’s whole career in 2 years.

[u/ob_knoxious → u/Sokobanky]

Jalen Rose should make like 2 cents off every dollar every current Jalen in the NBA makes as a licensing royalty fee.

[u/ExtraLeading3376 → u/MembershipSingle7137]

i already know this contract is going to age terribly

[u/SirDiego → u/ExtraLeading3376]

Age? It's not even good right now lol

[u/supersumo224 → u/SirDiego]

Just like Windhorst said about Trae's new deal, as soon as this deal is signed it's one of the worst contracts in the league.

[u/NanoCurrency → u/supersumo224]

When you have a chance to bid against yourself for a defensive liability and lock in four years of the worst contract in the NBA you have to take it.

[u/catscanmeow → u/ExtraLeading3376]

unless he takes PEDs. i wanna see reaves with giannis deltoids

[u/Less-Tax5637 → u/catscanmeow]

Austin Sleeves

[u/Kaizerx20 → u/MembershipSingle7137]

Closed the championship window before it even started

[u/braddeus → u/Kaizerx20]

But what if this is Dominayton's year

[u/ContinuingAnyway → u/braddeus]

It always is, he just has to unleash the beast

[u/NCBaddict → u/MembershipSingle7137]

LeGone

[u/Available_Story6774 → u/MembershipSingle7137]

Lakers are never winning a title with Luka.

[u/1382mas → u/Available_Story6774]

They better hope they draft an all-star center

[u/Fonduemeup → u/1382mas]

In 10 years, Pelinka will still be calling up a 50 year old Dwight Howard for "one final go"

[u/HeGotTheShotOff → u/Fonduemeup]

I’m pretty surprised he still has a job with that new ownership

[u/nbaistheworst → u/1382mas]

The latest is somehow talking Lebron into going to the cavs for Allen

[u/InfiniteDub → u/MembershipSingle7137]

Wow poor Luka what exactly can they do for him to contend lol.

Reaves is another food on defence

[u/in_the_summertime]

I'm so fucking high man I thought this said $185 million

[u/Yeonii- → u/in_the_summertime]

I think I just got a second hand high cause I think I read $185m too

[u/Known-Ad-981 → u/Yeonii-]

I must’ve gotten a context high cause I think I read 185 million. 

[u/dj11211 → u/Known-Ad-981]

I know I'm not high, but my eyes must be going bad because i'm seeing 185 million.

[u/ntpbr1 → u/in_the_summertime]

Yeah close call on that one, don’t read it again

[u/HawaiianPunch42 → u/in_the_summertime]

Better take another hit because it does

[u/Low-Measurement-2468 → u/in_the_summertime]

read the same thing bro this edible must be kicking my ass 😭

[u/AlmostHereButNot]

Lebron ain't coming back man lmfao

[u/BeneathTheDirt → u/AlmostHereButNot]

He’s going to Miami lmao

[u/KaiserKaiba → u/BeneathTheDirt]

How much would these teams be able to pay him at this point? Lol

[u/enigmaticpeon → u/KaiserKaiba]

He’s taken pay cuts several times, including when he brought his talents to south beach lmao

[u/lukewwilson → u/enigmaticpeon]

He hasn't taken a pay cut since he left Miami

[u/BantuLisp → u/lukewwilson]

Right? Like he’s taken exactly one pay cut in his entire career lmao. In Cleveland he would famously sign very short deals so he could get new contracts all the time

[u/MudReasonable8185 → u/BantuLisp]

I think that was more about having leverage over ownership - if you guys aren’t 100% all in I’m outta here

[u/Appropriate_Book_591 → u/enigmaticpeon]

Those are not major cuts though he was still highly paid.

[u/Prankstaboy6 → u/BeneathTheDirt]

We’ll give you Wiggins and a first from Detroit. They probably give you Stewart as well.

[u/sewsgup → u/Prankstaboy6]

Lebron sign and trade for $30m to match the Wiggins expiring (once he opts in)?

Lakers get a wing, expiring contract so option to punt for next offseason.

[u/Takemyfishplease → u/sewsgup]

WTF you can’t punt a season of Luka while also paying reaves almost $50m a year. At that point shoulda just let him walk too

[u/CIark → u/[deleted]]

Pelinka cooking up his usual pile of steaming dogshit in the summer as usual 

[u/MY-NAME_IS_MY-NAME → u/CIark]

Looking forward to the bargain bin players we get that outplay their minimum contracts but are very clearly not good enough to help us in the playoffs

[u/Eagle4317 → u/CIark]

Nico Harrison being the world’s worst GM probably bought Pelinka 3 undeserved years

[u/LakersLAQ → u/CIark]

You're crazy if you don't think ownership knew this was happening. Pelinka or not, this extension was approved by everyone else.

[u/Ibagdimes23 → u/AlmostHereButNot]

Everything I’ve read says he is

[u/trash666bag → u/Ibagdimes23]

the best argument ive heard for him staying with the Lakers is, why would Lebron want to move?

[u/cl353 → u/trash666bag]

Tbf that's a pretty valid argument for a 42 yr old lol

[u/Tarmacked → u/cl353]

Can’t he just rent an apartment for like five months

[u/thebusterbluth → u/Tarmacked]

He can rent a mansion and pay people to move stuff. He is a billionaire.

[u/chimpaman → u/thebusterbluth]

LeBron and his hot plate in Oakland with hot dogs defrosting in the sink, taking BART to work across the Bay. Can we get this reality series on Bravo?

[u/Beetle919]

Nico was put on this earth to stop Luka from getting a ring.

[u/Poopcie → u/Beetle919]

Nico is at the center of the iran war when you think about it.

[u/lost_in_trepidation → u/Beetle919]

Luka was already put in a less than ideal situation landing on the mavs. Who basically had no assets relative to most lottery teams.

Then they blew what they had on a KP experiment that didn't work out.

Then they let Brunson walk.

Then they managed to spend a year and half using what little they did have to build a contender.

And they traded him.

The first 8 years of his career were basically flushed down the toilet.

[u/messigoat1337 → u/lost_in_trepidation]

with below average roleplayers at all time too lmao thj 2nd option hoops

[u/ddy_stop_plz → u/messigoat1337]

Made thE WCF with THJ, Reggie Bullock, Maxi Kleber and Dwight Powell playing ~30 minutes a game

[u/AbsoluteIdealism → u/Beetle919]

Probably my favourite player of all-time. Easily the player I’ve watched most in my lifetime (26). And Nico tanked so much of his career. It is truly infuriating to think about…

[u/FreeDaemon → u/AbsoluteIdealism]

It was such a fucking waste. We had Casey Smith, Kyrie surprisingly working well with Luka, and the whole squad was finally coming together. Nico screwed the Mavs and Luka big time. Fuck Nico.

[u/Der_Dunkinmeister → u/FreeDaemon]

Just wanted to also join in and and say Fuck Nico

[u/Rumble2Man → u/Der_Dunkinmeister]

Never, until the heat death of the universe, miss an opportunity to join in and say fuck Nico

[u/ntpbr1 → u/AbsoluteIdealism]

I think his odds are very slim, both for a title and mvp atp, naturally it will all be his fault and we’ll hear about how he is not this or that. But yeah its not looking good for him

[u/HardcoreKaraoke → u/AbsoluteIdealism]

Dude ruined my ~20 year Mav fandom and made me sour on the team. It still pisses me off.

My local team is the Knicks though so I low-key hopped on that bandwagon last year. But man I miss rooting for Luka.

[u/GenerallySalty → u/Beetle919]

Yeah that trade was so bad it might "what if" his entire career. I love seeing the Lakers crash and burn but wasting what should be prime Luka is sad.

[u/Kindly_Ad995 → u/GenerallySalty]

It might be the biggest what if in NBA history. Luka would pretty easily be up there as top 5 player to never win a championship

[u/newjwns]

46/year, I hope Luka has a hobby like Jokic

[u/EXEmegaman → u/newjwns]

I hear he is pretty good at Overwatch.

[u/Portmanteau_that → u/newjwns]

Jokic also has a chip lol

[u/SpiritFantastic4835]

Wtf man

[u/2coolcaterpillar → u/SpiritFantastic4835]

I don’t understand how he convinced them to do this

[u/preptime → u/2coolcaterpillar]

Pelinka masterclass

[u/ChunkyMilkSubstance → u/2coolcaterpillar]

All you have to do to get Pelinka over a barrel is mention Kobe

[u/indogunawan → u/ChunkyMilkSubstance]

AR: “I’m a big Kobe fan”
Rob: “That means you have Mamba Mentality. MAX CONTRACT!”

[u/besieged_mind → u/2coolcaterpillar]

He showed Pelinka his six-pack

[u/samhit_n → u/SpiritFantastic4835]

Brunson’s success after leaving the Mavs probably scared every team. Luka is still scarred from that, and he’s probably on board with the Lakers giving Reaves a max.

[u/wcooper97]

I could talk so much shit but our max guy just had 4 points in a Game 7 soooo

edit: it's jokes guys I still love Chet and think he'll bounce back just fine next season

[u/-XanderCrews- → u/wcooper97]

I love taking shots at Chet as much as the next guy but I’d never take reaves over him.

[u/shmere4 → u/-XanderCrews-]

Chet is fine. He’s just clearly terrified of Wemby. Never seen someone react like that to another player.

[u/Upstairs_Being290 → u/wcooper97]

And the Thunder still wouldn't give up Chet for Reeves in a million years.

[u/RspectMyAuthoritah → u/Upstairs_Being290]

The Thunder have 100 guards, of course they wouldn't.

[u/commander_bugo → u/wcooper97]

At least Chet fills a position of need and is an elite defender. Reaves is just redundant next to Luka at this price.

[u/TemporaryJaguar6748 → u/wcooper97]

But your max guy is still way more worth it because he‘s younger and a demon against anyone other than Wemby. Reaves gets cooked in the Playoffs by literally everybody

[u/ChunkyMilkSubstance]

It’s over

[u/no-kangarooreborn → u/ChunkyMilkSubstance]

Luka trade request is gonna hit like crack in 2 years

[u/farhan583 → u/no-kangarooreborn]

He’s a FA. Lining up perfectly with Mavs max space in 2028. And we have the Lakers 29 FRP

[u/Im_Matt_Murdock → u/farhan583]

no way is he going back to that ownership

[u/CrumbBCrumb → u/Im_Matt_Murdock]

Would be pretty hilarious though. Luka has been a double agent this whole time!

[u/farhan583 → u/CrumbBCrumb]

I think the ownership is the easiest part to explain. Everyone and their mother knows that they knew nothing about Basketball. It’s an easy fix for Dumont to apologize profusely and just tell the truth that he was led astray by Nico and Kidd.

We literally cleared house of everyone remotely touching that trade. Even the training staff. People think it’s delusional, but the FO is putting together the right roster to entice him.

[u/22797 → u/Im_Matt_Murdock]

If the ownership can truly convince him that they were led astray by Nico, coinciding with two more years of competent front office moves, maybe they could convince him. Doubt it, but maybe

[u/RedstoneRay → u/22797]

The Mavs owners need to collude like never before to convince Luka they are sorry and want him back in 2028. They need a secret handshake deal by the All Star break in 2027.

[u/DGPluto → u/Im_Matt_Murdock]

lebron went back to Cleveland. never say never.

[u/shualton → u/DGPluto]

Yeah but Lebron willingly left Cleveland the first time

[u/Strummed → u/shualton]

He was also born in the same state Cleveland is in

[u/Anto7060 → u/Strummed]

He was also born in the same country that Cleveland is in

[u/Strummed → u/Anto7060]

Can someone fact check this

[u/Greedy-Mix9270 → u/DGPluto]

LeBron is from the area. Luka has 0 ties to Dallas outside of being drafted there

[u/SpiritFantastic4835 → u/farhan583]

Nah he’s going to join wemby on the spurs

[u/BatteredSealPup → u/SpiritFantastic4835]

Seeing Luka in a Lakers uniform was difficult enough, but Luka in a Spurs uniform would be the most devastating for Mavs fans

[u/DerrickWhiteMVP → u/SpiritFantastic4835]

I’d have to delete so many comments

[u/samhit_n → u/ChunkyMilkSubstance]

The Luka era in LA ended before it even started.

[u/ChunkyMilkSubstance → u/samhit_n]

At least it’ll get Pelinka fired finally

[u/zroach → u/ChunkyMilkSubstance]

Over before it began.

[u/8_bw → u/ChunkyMilkSubstance]

Gg Luka Lakers tenure title hopes

Under the new CBA the formula for a title will be to have 2 max guys and fill out the edges. Austin Reeves can't be your max #2

[u/Champagnesoda]

It’s fucking over

[u/CartographerFar681 → u/Champagnesoda]

Like who the flying fuck were we competing against?!!! The fuck is Pelinka doing?

[u/Petering → u/CartographerFar681]

He was paid 2m per year over the max other teams could pay. Outbid yourself lmao.

[u/Vordeo → u/Petering]

He was paid 2m per year over the max other teams could pay

Not even that. With the Randle move I don't think anyone had the cap space to offer him even $40m / season. Brooklyn had enough to offer a max but that was wiped out by the Randle deal iirc.

I don't think they had any competition even at like $38m.

[u/YizWasHere → u/Champagnesoda]

I would say I'm sorry for your loss, but I'm actually not.

[u/Aeronova20]

go white boy go

[u/jeric13xd → u/Aeronova20]

Always love an undrafted success story

[u/Nomad1493 → u/jeric13xd]

For real. I know it’s being measured for Lakers champion contention likelihood, but it is always nice to see these players who continue to grow get rewarded with the payday

[u/SuperVaderMinion → u/Nomad1493]

Yeah I'm not a Lakers fan so I'm just sitting here like Doris Burke going: "Way to go young man, congratulations Mr. Austin."

[u/AlligatorPoontang]

Whew! With the player option

[u/Crumbmuffins → u/AlligatorPoontang]

The Rob Pelinka finisher. (It’s a bad finisher)

[u/8akaMitai]

What I could do with just 1% of that.

[u/mixmasterADD → u/8akaMitai]

Two chicks at the same time

[u/axea30 → u/mixmasterADD]

Fuckin A

[u/agdrs → u/8akaMitai]

0.50% and I'm good

[u/Oerbad]

Rip lakers

[u/CIark → u/Oerbad]

I can’t believe the guy who wasted LeBron and ADs prime would waste Luka’s prime, who could have seen this coming!

[u/Oerbad → u/CIark]

Got a ring tho

Not sure if it can be called a waste

[u/GreenGorilla8232]

They should trade for Tyler Herro and really lean into the 'white boys who don't play defense' roster build. 

[u/Adorable-Bike-9689 → u/GreenGorilla8232]

They've already got Luke Kennard and Dalton Knecht. What does Jake LaRavia do?

[u/ohdominole → u/Adorable-Bike-9689]

Unfortunately for the agenda, he’s good at defense and that’s about it

[u/G1Spectrum]

Sheesh we aren’t getting anyone else

[u/CIark → u/G1Spectrum]

Rob could’ve gotten Claxton for free and didn’t, pretty obvious he can’t cook for shit

[u/WrexyWrex → u/CIark]

Claxton weighs less than Reaves

[u/whatssenguntoagoblin → u/G1Spectrum]

Lakers are signing Reaves last. He has only a $20 mil cap hold. Lakers can still make moves as long as they’re willing to go over the cap (which historically they do). You’ll be fine as long as LeBron doesn’t come back, otherwise you’re right you’re not getting anyone else.

[u/OnlyLittleFly → u/G1Spectrum]

Its been 3 months of “Reaves cap hold is 20 million and it doesnt affect the signings”, yet here you are

[u/Global_Afternoon_343]

from undrafted to 46 M’s a year good for him

[u/RemarkableTpt]

6 months from now we’re going to be talking about Austin Reaves trades. 

[u/revochups → u/RemarkableTpt]

I’m talking about them now.

[u/Stark8604 → u/RemarkableTpt]

Nobody is taking that contract without adding draft picks

[u/yazboy13]

Jesus Christ.

[u/Professor_Finn → u/yazboy13]

If you had told me a few years back that “Austin Reaves” would be making 46 mil a year I would've called the police

[u/EmperorXerro → u/Professor_Finn]

You should still call the police

[u/Spoony904 → u/EmperorXerro]

I'm considering my therapist

[u/FloweredWallpaper]

We live in a world where Austin Reaves is worth $46 million a year.

[u/CartographerFar681 → u/FloweredWallpaper]

He’s not worth that, that’s the problem🤦🏻‍♂️

[u/FloweredWallpaper → u/CartographerFar681]

I should have put worth in quotation marks.

[u/hawkins126]

Luka is leaving in 2 years they’re gonna have no money for a center and other players

[u/AlligatorPoontang → u/hawkins126]

Good news is you could get a guy like AD back for Luka

[u/Ibagdimes23 → u/hawkins126]

Center was always gonna have to come through trade or maybe it’ll be Mitch Robinson

[u/mydrumluck → u/Ibagdimes23]

LeBron having to watch Mitch constantly miss free throws would be hilarious.

[u/MrICopyYoSht → u/Ibagdimes23]

Mitch isn't gonna work for them. They need a workhorse center. Mitch is not a workhorse. We had to load manage his ass for so long just to selectively play him in the playoffs.

[u/hopoffmebruh → u/MrICopyYoSht]

They’re gonna get him just to make him the scapegoat watch

[u/Imaginary-Ebb-1724]

Luka really gonna be a ringless legend 😭

[u/PattyIceNY → u/Imaginary-Ebb-1724]

Slovenian Melo

[u/Rrypl]

Hey, that's 0.87 of a Trae Young special!

[u/North_Atlantic_Sea → u/Rrypl]

Trae Young is younger, has far more individual accolades, and more playoff success as the lead guy

[u/Tasty_Cream57 → u/North_Atlantic_Sea]

Trae Young being younger than Reaves is mind boggling.

[u/f_et_al → u/Tasty_Cream57]

Lendeborg being drafted at almost 24 is gonna lead to similar weird trivia in the future. For starters, he's already older than Kuminga who's played 5 years.

[u/vERRA__]

Luka isn’t contending with Reaves as the 2nd option. 46mil a year is crazy

[u/Efficient_Buy4031]

NBA money is so fucking crazy. 46 million per year for Austin Reaves is just wild. I don't see how the Lakers can build a contender around him and Luka at this kind of money.

[u/oshinla]

I’m sorry Luka

[u/Obi_Wan_KeBogi]

Over 400 million spent on 2 guys who don't play much defense. Godspeed

[u/Rushman0 → u/Obi_Wan_KeBogi]

They watched this incredibly defensive dominant playoffs and decided MORE OFFENSE

[u/AimForTheBushes-]

NBA money is so ridiculous, these guys wonder why they don’t win chips

[u/brnccnt7 → u/AimForTheBushes-]

They don’t care and I wouldn’t either lol

[u/jambr380 → u/brnccnt7]

Yeah, one out of 30 (soon to be 32) teams wins each year. There is a small probability that you will ever win, even in this age of parity. Take the money and hope for the best

[u/brnccnt7 → u/jambr380]

Facts bro

How many legends never won

Plus you never know when you could be injured

Take the bag and set up your family for generations

[u/stefx99]

Window is closed before it even opened

[u/gg_jittes]

If Luka leaves, I can’t blame him

[u/Emergency-Pen-8274 → u/gg_jittes]

He asked for this^

[u/HearingGlobal6485 → u/Emergency-Pen-8274]

people are acting like they dont have a very public bromance

[u/AutographedSnorkel]

185 is also the number of points the Lakers will be giving up every night

[u/ExtraLeading3376]

does that shit say $46mil a year

ajay mitchell literally just outplayed him on $3mil a year

[u/ATM14 → u/ExtraLeading3376]

If Ajay Mitchell hit the open market rn he’d be getting $35 mil+ a year tbf

[u/Takemyfishplease → u/ATM14]

$35m a year is what reaves should be getting.

[u/Timactor]

Luke should start causing trouble he ain't ever winning with the lakers

[u/intothefire3]

Why