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While the city of New York and its media machine are not paying attention this year because the Knicks are in the Finals — that group usually leads the “What playoff games? Let’s focus on the offseason” push — free agency and trade rumors are heating up fast around the league.
If you want the latest on Giannis Antetokounmpo trade rumors, follow this link. Here is what else is being talked about.
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Re-signing Austin Reaves is at the top of the Lakers’ offseason to-do list. He has proven himself a quality No. 2 option as a scorer and shot creator (plus a guy who can carry the offense for a stretch when Luka Doncic is out), plus he has become a key locker room voice for them.
The question is price. Reaves is 28 and this contract is his one shot at generational wealth, he is not handing out a steep discount to stay with the Lakers as he did with his last contract.
Reaves has leverage this time because he is an unrestricted free agent and there are other teams interested — including Brooklyn coming in at the max, reports Dan Woike of The Athletic.
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Multiple front-office sources around the league, granted anonymity to freely discuss an opposing player, expect Reaves to have interest from the Brooklyn Nets, with a four-year, $178.5 million contract expected to be offered. League sources said the Detroit Pistons and Atlanta Hawks are among a group of interested teams that can create space to make competitive offers. Other teams could also emerge.
The Lakers can offer more, both a fifth year and larger raises, with a max of $239.3 million (for five years), but they had hoped to get out cheaper, likely around $200 million. That said, the Lakers really have no choice but to pay a little more and make a deal. Reaves is a proven high-level shot creator who averaged 23.3 points and 5.5 assists a game last season while battling injuries, plus he has strong relationships with Luka Doncic and LeBron James. The Lakers cannot let Reaves just walk for nothing as a free agent — and he doesn’t want to. He wants to stay in Los Angeles, but as noted, this is his first massive contract, and he has to take…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/nba-offseason-trade-free-agent-181208386.html
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Publish date : 2026-06-12 18:12:00
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