Over the last several months, as Los Angeles Lakers star guard Austin Reaves neared his opportunity to opt out of his contract and cash in on a lucrative new one, many expected him to stay put. He eventually did by agreeing to a four-year, $185 million deal, but the process didn't come without anxiety.
He admitted that there was a point in the negotiations when he doubted he would end up staying with the Lakers. Indeed, the Detroit Pistons were one team that was "coming aggressively" for Reaves in free agency, according to Shams Charania of ESPN. Detroit finished first in the Eastern Conference last season but needed a little more star power and another legitimate scoring threat in its halfcourt game.
Vincent Goodwill of ESPN reported on "NBA
Today" that Pistons superstar Cade Cunningham tried to recruit Reaves to the Motor City.
“Banking on internal improvement has been the thought going back from last summer when they didn’t make a big move going into the season,” Goodwill said. “They want to see how Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson and Ron Holland would play together and it led to 60 wins. Now you’re thinking Detroit was going to go make a big move this past offseason. Cade Cunningham was very involved in the potential recruitment of Austin Reaves. Austin Reaves re-signed with the Lakers. Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, Kyrie Irving -- those were all names the Pistons were interested in. No moves materialized and now they’re going to bank on the restricted free agent of Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson’s extension.”
The Pistons have made some incremental moves this summer, including bringing in veteran forwards John Collins, Tobias Harris and Taurean Prince and guard Isaiah Joe. But they have largely been left behind in the arms race that has taken place throughout the Eastern Conference over the past several weeks.
Meanwhile, the Lakers lost LeBron James, Rui Hachimura, Marcus Smart, Luke Kennard and Jaxson Hayes a few weeks ago, but they have gotten younger and more fluid while improving their 3-point shooting and perhaps even their defense to a certain extent. Reaves, who averaged 23.3 points a game this past season, will have the opportunity to increase his scoring average for a fifth straight season with James now a member of the Philadelphia 76ers.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Cade Cunningham was 'very involved' in trying to recruit Austin Reaves
