The Los Angeles Lakers have had a successful free agency period this summer. Although it hasn’t been perfect, they did completely achieve their main goal of running it back with their incumbent core as much as possible.
They ended up re-signing Austin Reaves, D’Angelo Russell and Rui Hachimura to new contracts, while also adding forwards Taurean Prince and Cam Reddish, guard Gabe Vincent and big man Jaxson Hayes. These signings give the Lakers what looks to be a championship-caliber roster, at least on paper.
Of their incumbent players that they wanted to keep, Reaves was seen as the highest priority. Indeed, executive Rob Pelinka revealed that the undrafted guard was the first player he called at 3 p.m. Pacific time (h/t Lakers Nation).
Rob Pelinka gives an exclusive breakdown on his free agency process and who was his first call for the Lakers. pic.twitter.com/yPOxcx1Wlz
— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) July 7, 2023
“Austin was our first call, of course, when the clock ticked 3 p.m. and we were allowed to, we reached out to him and his agents. He said to us at the end of the season he really wanted to be a Laker and I think he tweeted the other day ‘Laker for life.’ That said I think it was important for us as an organization to give him the respect to go through the process and to see what was out there as a free agent. We never want to rush anyone into a decision or take options away from a player, but what we wanted him extraordinarily badly to re-sign. I think you could tell his heart’s desire was to be a Laker so once he went through the process and we re-engaged with his agents, we were happy it was able to be a streamlined and pretty expeditious process to get him signed.”
After a promising rookie season, Reaves seriously tapped into his potential this past campaign. He averaged 13.0 points and 3.4 assists a game in the regular season and upped those numbers to 16.9 points and 4.6 assists per contest in the playoffs. Throughout the season, he shot a high percentage from 3-point range and the free throw line, making him one of the most efficient players in the NBA.
The Lakers reportedly plan on giving him more responsibilities this coming season, as they plan on running more of their offense through him.
