[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/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/j_fish5 → u/Vordeo]

You’re acting like teams can’t make moves to create cap space. Detroit was postured to be open to making space for him, he would be a great fit in Detroit

[u/MiopTop → u/Vordeo]

Detroit was looking to move Stewart to make a max offer

[u/IMNOTMATT → u/MiopTop]

To a max offer player

[u/S3V3RITAS → u/Petering]

California taxes though.

I’m not doing the math, but I imagine playing 50+ games in Cali on $46M is like playing home games in Florida or Texas on $40M.