Austin Reaves averaged 13.0 ppg in 28.8 mpg for the Lakers in 2022-23.
The Los Angeles Lakers are keeping standout swingman Austin Reaves in the fold. Reaves and the Lakers have reportedly agreed to a four-year, $56 million deal.
The deal became official on July 6.
Reaves went from a two-way contract to a standard minimum contract in 2021 NBA training camp — and now less than two years later, cashes in on the maximum allowable salary from the Lakers. https://t.co/dEkgGQAanw
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 1, 2023
OFFICIAL: Austin Reaves is staying a Laker pic.twitter.com/rW8Kp2Ppuu
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) July 6, 2023
In bringing back Reaves, the Lakers have continued rounding out their roster in the offseason. They reportedly reached a deal to bring back D’Angelo Russell and have found a way to add Miami Heat guard Gabe Vincent and forward Taurean Prince as well in separate reported deals.
Reaves was instrumental to the Lakers reaching the 2023 Western Conference Finals, becoming the team’s No. 3 scorer in the playoffs. He posted 13 points, three rebounds and 3.4 assists per game in 28.8 minutes per game during the regular season, but upped those marks to 16.9 ppg, 4.4 rpg and 4.6 apg in 36.2 mpg while proving crucial in a first-round series vs. the Memphis Grizzlies.
Last season, Reaves became something more than another interesting find by the Lakers’ scouting department: The unsung prospect from rural Arkansas who played more baseball than basketball growing up transformed into a versatile, vital part of Los Angeles’ rotation.
Reaves said he has studied how James Harden and Trae Young draw fouls and attempted to incorporate their strategies into his game. Between his penchant for getting fouled and his physical approach on defense, Reaves regularly ends up moderately bloodied or bruised after games.
Reaves sees it as a way to help the Lakers without relying on superior strength or world-class speed. Last season, Lakers coach Darvin Ham calls him a daredevil, while LeBron James describes him as fearless.
Both of Reaves’ parents were accomplished players at Arkansas State, his mother a high-scoring 6-footer and his father a playmaking guard. He grew up idolizing Kobe Bryant, his grandmother’s favorite player.
He was modestly recruited out of high school, and he headed to the pros after five years in college at Wichita State and Oklahoma. He started out on a two-way contract with the Lakers last season but played his way into a firm NBA role as a rookie.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
