Lakers’ Austin Reaves Makes Definitive Statement on Impending Free Agency

The Lakers will hope to retain Austin Reaves in free agency this offseason, and it seems the emerging star has hopes of remaining in Los Angeles, too.

Speaking to reporters Tuesday after L.A. was eliminated in the Western Conference finals by the Nuggets on Monday, Reaves said that he wants to remain a Laker.

“I want to be here,” Reaves said, via  Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times. “It feels like home.” 

Reaves just finished the final season of his two-year, $2.488 million deal with the Lakers and is set to hit restricted free agency, meaning Los Angeles will retain the right to match any offer sheet submitted for the 24-year-old.

"I want to be here," Austin Reaves said. "It feels like home."

— Dan Woike (@DanWoikeSports) May 23, 2023

Recent reports have indicated there is an expectation that the Lakers could be priced out of the Reaves sweepstakes this offseason. The maximum deal L.A. could put forth for Reaves is a four-year, $50.1 million offer, which NBA insider Marc Stein indicates may not be enough to keep him away from other interested parties.

Reaves pocketed just $1.563 million this season and earned $925,000 during that 2021–22 campaign, but figures to receive a significant pay raise on the open market. Stein indicated Reaves’ market has not yet become clear, but said there’d “definitely” be a couple of teams who would be willing to offer more than what the Lakers can spend.

In what was a breakout season for the second-year wing, Reaves posted season averages of 13.0 points, 3.4 assists, and 3.0 rebounds per game. In 23 games after the All-Star break, Reaves averaged 17.6 points and 5.5 assists, seeing his minutes rise from 27.9 minutes per night to 30.4. 

The former undrafted free agent started all 16 games during the Lakers’ playoff run, averaging 16.9 points and shooting an impressive 44.6% from three-point range in his first postseason action.