Lakers News: Reporter Considers Free Agent LA Guard Likely Target For Pistons
Lakers fans, we have all come to love Austin Reaves this season but as the playoffs continue and we really get to see what he is made of in their biggest games all year, it will really determine just how much money he'll be able to garner when the summer rolls around.
It would have to take a complete meltdown from the second-year guard in these next slew of games to make LA realistically take a look at his free agency and not make it a priority. He has already proven to be more than capable on a squad filled with scorers and also take on tough defensive matchups.
Despite D'Angel Russell and Jared Vanderbilt also making an immediate impact upon arrival after the trade deadline, most fans have started to agree that Reaves will indeed be the most important player on the roster that needs to be retained.
Luckily for LA, they have his bird rights and he is a restricted free agent. This means that even if their front office lowballs him and he gets a bigger deal elsewhere, LA will be able to match the contract and hold onto him... think about what the Suns did with Deandre Ayton last offseason.
But we always have to prepare for the worst-case scenarios and it is no different here with the Oklahoma product. What teams may look to jump on him should he come searching around?
Obviously a contending team would probably like to get their hands on him considering his age and poise in big games but it'll be tough considering just how many other needs they have.
This is where experts from The Athletic believe that a young team looking for identity in the Eastern Conference comes into play.
The Detroit Pistons have become an organization that has been willing to give second chances to promising players who have yet to break out such as Marvin Bagley and James Wiseman.
But they also some talented guards that are looking to win games right now like Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey. Reaves could fit right into that mix if they take the right approach.
"The LeVert of restricted free agents, Reaves is just a hooper. He’s the third-best player on a Lakers team that has the defending NBA champion Warriors sweating, behind LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Once again, if the goal is just to add good basketball players, Reaves fits the bill. Detroit liked Reaves in the 2021 NBA Draft. The Pistons attempted to sign him to a two-way contract, but Reaves chose to sign with the Lakers."
(Via The Athletic)
Let's hope this stays as a pipe dream for Pistons fans instead of becoming a reality.
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