Episode
How Much Money Is Too Much Money for Austin Reaves?
- Published
- Jun 1, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 1424
- Processing state
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- https://lockedonpodcasts.com/podcasts/locked-on-lakers/
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Summary
The Lakers have some hard choices to make this summer. And while the idea of bringing back Austin Reaves isn't necessarily one of them -- unless a better alternative presents itself, a relative long shot, the Lakers don't have any viable way to replace Reaves if he goes -- there could very well be some uncomfortable conversations about how much it costs to get the deal done. Tim Bontemps of ESPN reports that many NBA insiders expect Reaves's deal to come in at or above $40 mil a year, as opposed to, say, $35 million. That's not a trivial difference, and could cause the Lakers a little pain as they try to build a high-end contender as quickly as they can around Luka Doncic. He notes that teams like Brooklyn and Chicago are in position to make very significant offers, much closer to the maximum Reaves can get under CBA rules. That would require Reaves to enter situations where titles aren't part of the equation, but if the money was that much better, and maybe if he felt the Lakers lowballed him, could he go that direction? It feels like Reaves wants to come back. He's said he's not interested in squeezing as much as he can from the team. The Lakers want him to return. What remains to be seen is the number. What's something the Lakers, and Reaves, could both feel good about? HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGYIgnite your taste buds with the flavor of the summer. Get a Firework Freeze 5-hour ENERGY®️ shot today.…