NBA rumors: Nets floated as candidate to steal Austin Reaves from Lakers on $180 million contract

Los Angeles Lakers star Austin Reaves will be among the top free agents to hit the open market this summer. While Reaves is widely expected to return to the Lakers, league sources told ESPN’s Tim Bontemps that the Brooklyn Nets could make a run at the unrestricted free agent.

“One potential bidder to watch this summer, sources said, is the Brooklyn Nets, who will enter the offseason with more than enough salary cap space to accommodate a max-type player,” Bontemps wrote.

Reaves is eligible to return to the Lakers on a five-year max contract at $239 million. However, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, scouts and executives project his new deal will land in the range of five years and $200 million ($40 million AAV).

Brooklyn has the spending power to drive up the price for Reaves.

Could Nets pry Austin Reaves away from Lakers with max contract offer?

The Nets can create upwards of $50 million in cap space, depending on roster decisions, and can offer Reaves up to four years and $180 million ($45 million AAV). While Los Angeles can pitch Reaves on a playoff-ready roster headlined by Luka Doncic, Brooklyn can offer the 28-year-old a lead offensive role in the New York market.

Brooklyn is searching for a face of its franchise after back-to-back tanking seasons failed to net a top-five draft pick. Reaves would immediately step in as the Nets’ No. 1 offensive option as they attempt to rebuild a contender

Reaves’ performance in recent years has led many to believe he is worth such an investment. The 6-foot-5 guard has averaged 21.5 points on .472/.370/.874 shooting splits with 5.7 assists and 2.6 turnovers per game (2.14 ast/to) across 124 appearances over the last two seasons.

Reaves was one of seven players this season to average 20-plus points and five-plus assists with a true shooting percentage over 60 and an assist-to-turnover ratio over 2.0, alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic, Jamal Murray, Donovan Mitchell and James Harden.

The post NBA rumors: Nets floated as candidate to steal Austin Reaves from Lakers on $180 million contract appeared first on ClutchPoints.