Austin Reaves made himself some money last season.
The Lakers guard is coming off a 2022-23 campaign in which he averaged 13.0 points, 3.4 assists and 3.0 rebounds per game with 52.9/39.8/86.4 shooting splits. He emerged as a legitimate third option in the playoffs, fitting perfectly alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
Once an undrafted two-way player, Reaves is now a critical piece of Los Angeles' rotation. And at just 25 years old, he still has room to improve ahead of the prime stage of his career, making him one of the most attractive free agents this summer.
Will the Lakers keep Reaves in Los Angeles? Here are the latest rumors and updates on his status.
MORE: The best bargain 3-point shooters available in free agency
Austin Reaves free agency rumors: Tracking latest news on Lakers guard
Austin Reaves is part of Lakers' run-it-back plan
Date: June 28
Rumor: All signs point to the Lakers re-signing Reaves and other key free agents this offseason. Los Angeles also continues to "operate under the assumption" that James will be back after his comments in his final postgame press conference of the season sparked speculation about his future.
Reported by: Jovan Buha, The Athletic
Lakers extend qualifying offer to Austin Reaves
Date: June 27
Rumor: The Lakers announced that they had extended qualifying offers to Reaves and Rui Hachimura, making both players restricted free agents. This was merely a formality, as Los Angeles was never going to renounce the rights to Reaves and Hachimura.
Reported by: Official announcement
Rockets may be turning attention toward Fred VanVleet
Date: June 27
Rumor: While Reaves "still appears to be an option for the Rockets," they seem to be locking in on VanVleet. The Raptors guard became an unrestricted free agent after declining his $22.8 million player option.
Reported by: Jake Fischer, Yahoo Sports
Austin Reaves among Rockets' targets, but Lakers plan to match any offer
Date: June 27
Rumor: The Rockets are projected to have approximately $60 million in cap space, so they have expressed interest in several free agents, including Reaves. The Lakers are considered "a lock" to match any offer, though, even if an offer sheet reaches nearly $100 million over four years.
Reported by: Marc Stein, Substack
