Cam Thomas has made his free agency demand clear to Brooklyn’s net, and the Austin Raves are expected to get the deal he wants without Los Angeles Lakers drama.
With the NBA offseason approaching the end, the biggest free agency storyline is a restricted free agency who has not yet signed a deal. Cam Thomas, Jonathan Cuminga, Josh Giddie and Quentin Grimes dominate the headlines.
The Los Angeles Lakers will mark Luka Donsic on a three-year extension, while LeBron James will play the final year of his contract in LA. After this season, James will become an unlimited free agent and Austin Reeves is also expected to enter unlimited free agency, but he has the option of a player to pick up.
If he has the money to spend next summer, the Lakers are expected to play exactly what he wants.
The Reaves averaged 20.2 points and 5.8 assists last season, shooting 37.7% from Deep. Behind James and Don Sic, he is the team’s third choice, but as James grows older, he is expected to take over as Don Sic’s co-star.
The Lakers are expected to have history to handle the stars properly and pay the leave for their achievements.
“Even if he plans to stay with the Lakers, there’s no chance he’s picking up a $14.9 million player option,” he predicted. NBC’s Wolf Herrin.
“Reaves reportedly want to be paid in the $30 million annual Tyler Hero range (and Hero is a good comp in many ways). If this season shows he will be a high-level scorer next to Luka Donsic and stepping up his game in the playoffs, the Lakers will be happy to pay it to protect him.”
Last season, after Doncic was traded to LA and recovered from a prolonged calf injury, the Reaves scored 22.3 points and five assists per game, indicating they could share the floor with both Doncic and Anthony Davis.
For fans, the upcoming season will be the most important part of his career, but there is little reason to lack faith in Reeves’ ability to remain solid.
“If he struggles again in the playoffs, the Lakers will have a lot of cap space — you might question whether that’s the best way to spend your money,” Herin finished.
While salary negotiations between Reeves and the Lakers are expected to be easy next summer, the same cannot be said for Thomas and Brooklynnet.
Earlier this offseason, Thomas received a qualifying offer from NETS worth $5.9 million after refusing to a two-year $28 million deal.
Thomas wants to be like Hero (about $30 million per season), and while the net understands his scoring ability, he doesn’t see any more value.
Reeves is paid like he’s a Fringe All Star, but Thomas, Cuminga, Giddy and Grimes have yet to win or take the true star role. The Reaves have proven to the Lakers that he is worthy of a big pay raise, and the unlimited free agents are negotiating based on their potential.