NBA Rumors: The two teams that have a real interest in Austin Reaves

Austin Reaves is shaping up as one of the standout names in the upcoming NBA free agency market. While Los Angeles Lakers are favored to re-sign the player, several franchises are already preparing moves to try and secure his services this summer. According to reports from Dan Woike and Sam Amick of The Athletic, Utah Jazz and Atlanta Hawks are two of the teams that have already shown a "known interest" in acquiring the shooting guard.

Reaves, 27, enters free agency after averaging 23.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.1 steals, and 2.3 three-pointers per game, with a 36% shooting accuracy from three-point range for the season. However, all indications suggest that his priority remains staying in Los Angeles. The 6'5" guard, expressed his desire to continue with the Lakers during the season, and there were even reports indicating he might accept a slight pay cut to remain with the franchise.

A Multimillion-Dollar Contract on the Horizon

The Lakers are fully aware of the economic magnitude of renewing Reaves long-term. The scarcity of big stars available in free agency, especially players under 30, has significantly increased the value of the wing player. Additionally, the progressive rise of the NBA salary cap puts his next contract above $40 million per season.

The main challenge for the Los Angeles franchise will be building a competitive roster while allocating over $90 million annually to Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic. On top of that is the situation with LeBron James. The Lakers will also need to decide what offer to present to the veteran player, whose market appears more limited due to salary restrictions affecting potential interested teams.