Episode Details

The Lakers have some hard choices to make as they try and put a winning team around Luka Doncic, and one of the biggest is how to bring back Austin Reaves (which they need to do, short of using Reaves essentially to find his replacement, which feels like a long shot) but do so at a number that they're happy with. And more importantly, provides the type of flexibility to fill other important needs (especially defensively) that a Luka/Reaves long-term core creates. 

So what will the market look like? Monday's action around the NBA could have an impact. First, both the Bulls and the Nets spent into their available cap space as part of the three team deal sending Julius Randle to Brooklyn and Nic Claxton to Chicago. They could easily create more room to make a max offer to Reaves, but now have work to do if that's the goal. 

Meanwhile, Trae Young agreed to a deal for gobs of money to stay in Washington, and Ayo Dosunmu will stay in Minnesota for about $22 million per season. Where does Reaves fit in between those guys? And more importantly, is there anyone left to give him big dollars if the Lakers don't want to max him out? 

Meanwhile, while it seems pretty clear that barring something unexpected Reaves will be back, the same can't be said about Rui Hachimura, who has a very, very valuable skill set (shooting) but some obvious holes as well. The Lakers can definitely find a better fit and more well rounded skill set for the money it might cost to keep him, but it's also very possible they could take a step back. And in a market that could move very quickly, if the Lakers take too long to make a choice or push for other players, they could lose Rui and not get the guy they want. 

So it's a dicey proposition for an important free agent. 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky 

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