NBA Rumors: Lakers Ready To Match Any Contract Offers To These 2 Players

Sure, the Los Angeles Lakers are down 3-0 in their series to the Denver Nuggets, but if anyone had told Lakers fans before the trade deadline (then in 13th spot in the West) that they'd be in the Conference Finals three months later, they'd have taken it. 

And two of the main reasons they're here is the play of tsecond-year sensation Austin Reaves and trade acquisition Rui Hachimura. Both are restricted free agents, but according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the Lakers are determined to keep both, no matter the cost.

The Lakers are expected to match contract offers for Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura in free agency, per @wojespn. pic.twitter.com/Pai2VqLsV5

— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) May 21, 2023

Woj reports that the team is expected to match any contract offers for Reaves and Hachimura this summer. “I don’t see any scenario where the Lakers would not match on both,” Wojnarowski said on his Woj Pod podcast. 

Reaves has been a revelation this season and into the playoffs. He averaged 13.0 points per game in the regular season and is third on the team in scoring this postseason at 16.9 PPG in addition to 4.7 assists and 4.6 rebounds.  

Due to CBA regulations, the most the Lakers can offer is 4 years, just over $50M, but other teams will be able to go well above that if they so desire. But no worries, Lakers fans, as Woj's colleague Brian Windhorst echoes the same sentiments:

“There’s no way they’re letting (Reaves) walk. Because they absolutely had egg dripping from their chin on letting Alex Caruso walk (two years ago). And Reaves, let’s just be honest, he’s their third-best player.”

Hachimura averaged 9.6 points in 22.4 minutes per game with them during the regular season and 12.3 points in 23.1 minutes per game across the Lakers' first 15 playoff games. When the Lakers traded for him from the Washington Wizards, Woj noted that they dealt for him "with the idea they're going to have a long future with him." Nothing has changed on that front.

 Photo: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports