Lakers News: Austin Reaves Indicates Whether Lucrative Contract Will Change Pregame Swag
Los Angeles Lakers team vice president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka feared guard Austin Reaves might sign a richer free agency contract with another team before the 2023 offseason.
Such fears quickly resigned after the former Sooner decided to stay in LA with a new four-year contract worth $54 million.
Though his bank account surely changed overnight Reaves indicated that one area of his NBA lifestyle wouldn't even with some additional zeroes on his new paychecks.
Reaves grew in popularity last season after his great play down the stretch that helped the Lakers reach a playoff spot that seemed distant when the trade deadline first came around.
Pelinka made sure to alter his roster and his many moves paved the way for his shooting guard to play a bigger role as a ball handler down the stretch.
The switch paid off immensely as Reaves' ability to draw contact, get to the free throw line and play a great two-man game with Lebron James proved vital keys to LA's postseason push.
The Arkansas native didn't slow down when the lights got brighter as he ended up being the third-best Laker through the postseason with some very clutch moments.
Reaves' soundbites against the Grizzlies and his half-court buzzer beater in the clinching game against the Warriors made many LA fans smile but also wonder what life could be like without the impending free agent from last year.
Secured for the next four seasons and part of Team USA's FIBA World Cup team, Reaves is ready to go for another year at Crypto.com Arena with championship expectations.
The Nuggets may have got the better of the Lakers last season but Reaves and company will hope to make an early statement in just a few weeks.
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