This was the moment Austin Reaves had been waiting for. It was time for him to have his big payday and secure himself a long-term deal.
However, instead of feeling joy about thinking of all the teams that potentially wanted him, Reaves was anxious, eager to find out where he would be.
In the end, everything worked out fine. Reaves reportedly agreed to a four-year, $185 million deal with the Lakers, securing that he’ll remain with the franchise that took him back in 2021 as an undrafted player.
In a
piece by Dan Woike of The Athletic, Reaves discussed how stressful these negotiations were for him.
“I mean, it was a breath of fresh air because I hadn’t stopped thinking about where I was going to be. And it’s just like a sigh of relief,” he said in a phone interview Wednesday. “I mean, regardless of whatever played out, I’m obviously grateful and in a good position to take care of the people I love. My heart’s been in L.A. Every morning I wake up, I’m just like, ‘I hope we can get this done today.’
Reaves has always let his emotions be known.
It’s what’s made him a player Lakers fans love. During his first playoff stint, when he was torching the Grizzlies, he yelled “I’m him” on the floor, and this past season, when he tied a game against the Nuggets, he was caught saying “I love you” to the basketball on camera.
So, naturally, with his career up in the air, even for good reason, it was going to cause him to be a bit worried. Seeing a photo of him lying on the floor, relieved that he was staying with the Lakers, doesn’t feel like a cheesy social media stunt. It just seems like Reaves being himself, unbothered by what the world thinks of him.
While the Lakers ended up offering him a max deal, it was reported that teams like the Pistons were interested in signing him. It’s naturally good to be wanted, but this also put Reaves’ future up in the air, and he wasn’t sure he was going to remain in LA.
“A couple of times actually,” Reaves said. “I didn’t know how negotiations would go. I don’t think Aaron and Reggie really knew how negotiations would go, so we learned a lot throughout the process. But like I said, we wanted to be in L.A., my heart was in L.A., and we got it done.”
During this process, Reaves made it clear he wanted to remain a Laker, and the franchise has obliged.
Now, this great tale of the Lakers hitting the jackpot by discovering Reaves can continue for years to come. They have secured Luka Dončić’s backcourt partner, and everyone seems thrilled about the situation.
Reaves can get off the golf course now and celebrate with his family and friends. This new deal means LA can now be his forever home, and the Lakers, potentially the only team he ever plays for.
You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.
