The Utah Jazz could try to pry Austin Reaves from the Los Angeles Lakers this offseason when the undrafted guard hits unrestricted free agency.
According to Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor, the Jazz, who are projected to have up to $70M in cap space this summer, have a legitimate interest in making a run at AR-15.
“I think the Utah Jazz are going to be a team that has big interest in Austin Reaves this summer,” O’Connor said on his podcast [H/T SLC Dunk].
“There are going to be teams that make a big max offer for Reaves, and he’s going to have that choice. So the Lakers—like, Rich Paul’s not saying it—but I’m sure Rich Paul has that same exact information about where Reaves could go this offseason.”
O’Connor was referencing Rich Paul’s suggestion that the Lakers should explore trading Reaves to the Memphis Grizzlies for defensive ace Jaren Jackson Jr., possibly due to intel he may have about Reaves’ thought process entering free agency.
Austin Reaves Free Agency
The Lakers, who own Reaves’ full Bird Rights, can offer him a five-year, $241M max contract, while the Jazz and other teams can offer a four-year, $178.5M deal.
Some analysts, such as Tom Haberstroh, have compared Reaves’ situation to that of James Harden in 2012, when “The Beard” broke away from Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook to build his own legacy with the Houston Rockets. As such, Reaves could have the desire to be the No. 1 offensive option elsewhere, a luxury he’ll never have playing next to Luka Doncic and LeBron James.
Besides the Jazz, the San Antonio Spurs have also been earmarked as a curious Reaves suitor, despite their crowded backcourt of De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle and future star Dylan Harper.
Reaves Loyal to the Lakers
For what it’s worth, Reaves has repeatedly stressed his desire to remain with the Lakers, the franchise that took a chance on him in 2021. He told ESPN’s Dave McMenamin in November that he’d be willing to take a paycut due to his loyalty to the Lakers.
“Even though the other extension (four-year, $89 million) was turned down [last offseason], that doesn’t mean that I’m trying to go get a f—ing gigantic number that don’t make sense,” Reaves said.
“I want to be here, I want to win. I want to do everything that can help this organization be better. So I don’t try to think about those things.”
The loyalty goes both ways. According to The Athletic’s Sam Amick, the Lakers are committed to giving Reaves the bag this offseason, shutting down any talk of a Reaves trade before the Feb. 5 deadline.
“[Jeanie Buss] is the captain of the Austin Reaves Fan Club,” Amick said told “Run it Back” on Fan Duel TV. “And Rob Pelinka is a huge fan as well…Right now, all signs point to them paying Austin Reaves that massive amount coming his way this summer.”
Reaves — averaging a career-high 26.6 points, 6.3 assists and 5.2 rebounds on 50% shooting — has been sidelined since the Christmas Day game against the Houston Rockets with a grade 2 left gastrocnemius strain.
Lakers Risk Losing Austin Reaves to West Rival in Free Agency: Report