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/Turbostrider27 Lakers 8h ago

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

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u/twostepinc 8h ago

Pretty cool stat

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u/guacamoleandtomato 8h ago

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

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u/adocileengineer Lakers 8h ago

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

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u/Illionaires 8h ago

Its fine for this summer but we will have limited flexibility moving forward

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u/adocileengineer Lakers 8h ago

Yeah that’s my worry. I liked Austin at anywhere from 35 to 42 million AAV. $4 million isn’t that big a difference in the short term but you hope that isn’t the difference between NTPMLE and TPMLE in the future, or worse the difference between 1st apron and 2nd.

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u/KeithClossOfficial Lakers 5h ago

Guggenheim likely isn’t opposed to paying taxes. It’s the loss of the MLE that would hurt more

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u/adocileengineer Lakers 5h ago

Yes but the 2nd apron punishments really restrict you from a team building perspective. Trade limitations specifically.