Austin Reaves Takes $5 Million Cut on $185 Million Lakers Deal as Team Chases Flexibility
Updated
Updated · Bleacher Report · Jul 13
Austin Reaves Takes $5 Million Cut on $185 Million Lakers Deal as Team Chases Flexibility
3 articles · Updated · Bleacher Report · Jul 13
Summary
About $5 million was shaved off Austin Reaves' new Lakers extension, with ESPN reporting he accepted less than the original agreement to preserve future cap flexibility.
That adjustment supports Los Angeles' offseason plan to build a roster around Luka Doncic while keeping Reaves as a long-term core piece.
The Lakers have already reshaped the team: LeBron James is leaving in free agency, Walker Kessler arrived in a costly sign-and-trade, and Quentin Grimes, Collin Sexton and Kevon Looney were added.
Reaves had signed a four-year, $185 million max deal earlier, after declining a $14.9 million player option, and said he is ready for a "completely different team" under JJ Redick.