Lakers lowball offer to Austin Reaves leads to costly contract extension

The Los Angeles Lakers signed Austin Reaves to a four-year, $185 million contract this summer after initially offering a lowball deal. Jovan Buha reported that the Lakers attempted to extend Reaves with an annual salary in the low-$30 million range, which he found insulting. The Lakers later increased their offer to near-max value when they realized the risk of losing him. The situation highlights the challenges the team faced in retaining a key player.

• 12:25 PMYahoo Sports — Los Angeles Lakers’ Plan to Initially Lowball Austin Reaves Ultimately Proved Costly, Claims Insider