Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reeves declined a max level extention from the team earlier this week, according to Dan Woike, who covers the team for The Athletic.
The team offered Reeves a 4-year, maximum extension worth $89.2 miilion but declined the offer. Woike also reported that Reeves will play out the third of a 4-year, $54 million deal he signed in 2023, decline his player option after next season and enter free agency.
The decision to bet in himself and go into free agency is not indicative of a deterioration of his relationship with the Lakers, as he has indicated his desire to remain with the Lakers, despite his name constantly circulating in trade rumors.
Reeves seemed to be unbothered by the trade speculation that swirls around him, speaking on the subject earlier this month to SI at his basketball camp:
“”I really don’t pay attention to any of it. If I hear it, it’s usually my mom asking me about it because I’m sure she scrolls all day long looking at that stuff, as a parent would do. At this point, it’s not in my control. I want to be in L.A. If they want to trade me, we’ll start something new somewhere else, but like I said, I want to be in L.A. I want to play my whole career in L.A. I love it there; I love the fans. … And obviously, the Lakers are the best organization in basketball.”
3323. 233Reeves was an undrafted free agent out of Oklahoma, signing a two-way contract with the Lakers in 2021. His tough, hard-nosed and effective play quickly led the team to convert his contract to a regular deal just a month later. This season Reeves saw carrer highs in points per game (20.2), starts (73) , minutes per game (34.2), free throw percentage (.877), assists (5.8), rebounds (4.5), steals (1.1), and PER (18.1).
