Specified free agents Los Angeles Lakers have extended qualifying offers to Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura, showing their desire to keep the outstanding pair on the squad for the next campaign. By making these offers, the Lakers have the option to match any deal that each player receives during the start of free agency on Friday at 6 o’clock.
The Lakers may get criticism despite their efforts to retain Reaves and Hachimura if the contracts they finally reach for these players are viewed negatively or if they put the team’s future financial flexibility at risk.
Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura officially receive extended qualifying offers from Lakers
Hachimura and Austin Reaves, who were instrumental in the LA Lakers’ surprising run to the Western Conference Finals, have made it plain that they wish to be kept on. The Lakers have extended qualifying offers to both players as a sign of their continued commitment, making them restricted free agents. Los Angeles will then have the option to match any free-agent offers that the two players earn. The Lakers’ main objective is to keep Hachimura and Reaves, but if other teams make them the best offers possible, the Lakers may need to make some difficult decisions.
Lakers have officially extended qualifying offers to Rui Hachimura and Austin Reaves, making them both restricted free agents pic.twitter.com/7Y8WsRxpkv
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 28, 2023
Austin Reaves is the third-best player at Lakers after LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Thus, he is anticipating to see a large rise in compensation. Interested clubs may attract Reaves with a startling $100 million deal for the same length, as opposed to the Lakers’ $50–51 million for four years. The Lakers’ minimal financial space in the first two years and the huge pay commitment in the latter two years would make it difficult for them to sign Reaves to such a max contract.
Rui Hachimura’s market worth might be in the neighborhood of $20 million. Keeping him on the club could need making another financial sacrifice, even if the Lakers might be reluctant to go that far. The Lakers must ultimately do a difficult balancing act as they try to hold onto both outstanding players while staying within their means.
Lakers to miss the playoffs for third consecutive season as extension of Austin Reaves and Hachimura
The Los Angeles Lakers are willing to forgo depth on their roster in order to keep Rui Hachimura and Austin Reaves for the upcoming campaign. The Lakers may free up around $17 million in salary budget space by cutting ties with players like D’Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley, and Mo Bamba, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, who has proposed a potential solution.
Marks anticipates Reaves and Hachimura to continue wearing Lakers apparel, demonstrating the organization’s dedication to keeping the brilliant combination together. However, choosing these expansions above preserving depth may have unintended implications. They may need to seek out seasoned players to strengthen their bench in order to make up for any roster shortages.
