Do the Los Angeles Lakers have one of the NBA’s most underpaid players on their roster?
Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley thinks so.
On Friday, Buckley praised Austin Reaves and called the 26-year-old guard one of the best bargains in the Association.
“Austin Reaves' latest breakout season saw him become one of only 12 players to average at least 20 points, five assists and 2.5 three-pointers,” Buckley wrote.
“He was, of course, the only player on that list who spent the campaign as his club's third option, slotting in behind LeBron James and a second superstar (first Anthony Davis, later Luka Dončić).”
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“Reaves, 26, was also one of two players on that list to pocket fewer than $30 million this season. One was Tyler Herro, who took home $29 million while making his All-Star debut. Reaves, meanwhile, made just $12.98 million, which tied him with New Orleans Pelicans stopper Herb Jones for 121st in the league.”
“In other words, Reaves takes up less than 10 percent of the cap and just served as the No. 3 option on the Western Conference's No. 3 seed.”
Reaves’s efficiency, versatility, and clutch play make him nearly indispensable.
But will the Lakers trade him this summer? Rumors are swirling, pointing to that very possibility.
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