The calm before the NBA season just exploded. Insider Anthony Irwin has dropped a bombshell: Austin Reeves is preparing to demand a jaw-dropping $35 million per year on his next deal. Even more shocking? The San Antonio Spurs are circling like sharks, ready to throw the bag and rip him away from Los Angeles.
Reeves, fresh off a breakout year averaging 20 points per game, is reportedly ready to opt out and test the market as an unrestricted free agent. That single move has Lakers Nation in panic mode. Can the front office afford to pay him superstar money? Or will they watch their rising star walk straight into the arms of Gregg Popovich and the Spurs?
The Lakers want to keep him, but the new CBA restrictions make his asking price a nightmare. Is Reeves truly worth max-level money when critics still question his defense? Or is L.A. about to sink its cap space into a risky gamble?
The Spurs, meanwhile, are licking their chops. Not only could they land Reeves, but insiders whisper about a potential trade package: Jeremy Sochan, Julian Champagnie, and future draft picks in exchange for Reeves. That would give the Lakers defensive depth and flexibility β but at the cost of their fan-favorite guard.
And the clock is ticking. If the Lakers stall, Reeves could walk for nothing, igniting chaos across the Western Conference. A move like this could shift the balance of power β pairing Reeves with Victor Wembanyama in San Antonio would create a new nightmare for L.A.
π The question now: will the Lakers pay up and keep their breakout star, or will the Spurs steal him in one of the most shocking heists of the offseason? The answer could define the franchiseβs future.
