The Los Angeles Lakers landing Austin Reaves as an undrafted free agent prior to the 2021–22 season turned out to be one of the great steals in recent memory. But Reaves ending up in Los Angeles took some draft-night strategizing, which he revealed while appearing on the All the Smoke Podcast.
According to Reaves, the Detroit Pistons were willing to select him with the No. 42 overall selection in the 2021 draft. However, Reaves asked them not to select him because the Pistons planned on signing him to a two-way contract, rather than guaranteeing him a roster spot.
“We knew there was high interest for a two-way [contract], so we didn’t really have to press,” Reaves said. “That’s what everything in the draft would have been, from No. 42 and on.”
Austin Reaves turned down being drafted so he could pick his best fit 🔥
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 20, 2023
Always bet on you yourself 💯
(via All The Smoke Podcast, @shobasketball) pic.twitter.com/XOSoD5wSma
Knowing that, Reaves says he and his agent made a tiered list of teams he most wanted to land with. The Lakers were No. 2 on the list, only behind the Milwaukee Bucks, and Reaves was okay with not hearing his name called on draft night in order to land in the best situation possible for his career.
“I didn’t really have to hear my name called either,” Reeves said. “Obviously I wanted to, but it was always about playing the long game.”
The bold maneuver worked out in the end for the former Oklahoma star. After cracking the Lakers’ rotation and starting 19 games as a rookie, Reaves evolved into an essential piece during his second season, particularly in the team’s playoff run. That earned him a four-year contract worth a reported $56 million to stay in Los Angeles this offseason.
Not bad for a guy who struggled to find a guaranteed contract two years before.
