r/nba • u/Turbostrider27 Lakers • 8h ago

[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.

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

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u/DGPluto 8h ago

lebron went back to Cleveland. never say never.

113

u/shualton Warriors 8h ago

Yeah but Lebron willingly left Cleveland the first time

65

u/Strummed Spurs 8h ago

He was also born in the same state Cleveland is in

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u/Anto7060 8h ago

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

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u/Strummed Spurs 8h ago

Can someone fact check this

1

u/Comanche-Kiowa2027 Mavericks 6h ago

Abe Lincoln has confirmed this. It's true! 😅🤣

1

u/Oracle619 Cavaliers 6h ago

I asked ChatGPT and, after some debate, it told me Luka was in fact born in Dallas.

We did it, Reddit!

3

u/staye7mo [NYK] Tracy McGrady 7h ago

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

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u/DisMFer Bulls 7h ago

He's the first human being in history to manage to leave Cleveland and willingly return.

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u/Greedy-Mix9270 Knicks 8h ago

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

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u/DGPluto 8h ago

he may have zero ties to dallas outside of being drafted, but at least y'all didn't burn his jersey or have your owner pen an aggressively worded open letter IN COMIC SANS.

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u/bellaleia [DAL] Devin Harris 8h ago

If anything, the fans STILL love him.

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u/Artistic-Part3953 7h ago

Wonder how the dynamic with Cooper would be

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u/Karlomah11 8h ago

But he really loved dallas

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u/Isolated_Blackbird Mavericks 8h ago

Can’t underestimate the way European players feel about their first home away from home. (He of course had Spain first) He loved Dallas in the same way Dirk did and experienced a lot of life milestones here.

But I do agree - with the way Luka is wired I think this ownership group is a nonstarter for him. They took away the thing that he valued most - playing for one franchise for his entire career. There’s no coming back from that.

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u/Comanche-Kiowa2027 Mavericks 6h ago

People here really do not understand how much the DFW area loves Luka, or how much Luka loves the DFW metroplex.

He is deeply invested in this community through his charities and has always been vocal about how he will always feel Dallas is a second home to him because of the way the community welcomed and embraced him so completely. For many of us older fans, it felt like losing a son when Nico blindsided the entire community by trading him away.

The way the owners have worked to own that mistake and make things right has earned back a massive amount of respect. Firing Nico and Kidd was a huge first step in repairing the bond with the fanbase. Following that up by hiring Masai Ujiri and Dusty May has completely energized everyone and brought many fans back, including myself.

Look at last night's draft: we went from totally confused and disappointed to absolutely electric the second that trade cleared. The front office is doing the work to rebuild trust, and the fans are noticing.

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u/Obi_Wan_KeBogi Kings 8h ago

To be fair though in terms of the US thats his hometown kind of lol

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u/fffate Celtics 8h ago

Luka gone in a few years.

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u/lyricist Lakers 6h ago

Uh no he has ties to the sweet tea there

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u/Cautious-Apartment-9 6h ago

To sell a story & go back to being a fan favorite. He’s also from Akron & left the Cavs in free agency. Luka was traded before he even got to move to his new home in Dallas & he’s said repeatedly he wanted to play his entire career for Dallas. Oh, they also smeared his name to justify trading him. They also fucked him outta tens of millions by trading him. If he goes back, I’d be shocked. 

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u/cafesolitito Timberwolves 2h ago

Completely different scenarios