Austin Reaves
Heading into the offseason, there may not be a hotter young free agent name right now than Austin Reaves. Coming off a breakout season in which he averaged 17 points, five assists, and four rebounds in the playoffs, it’s safe to say that he’s going to get huge offers in free agency. But as a restricted free agent, it won’t be easy (and it will be costly) to pry Reaves away from the Los Angeles Lakers.
That said, there will certainly be teams that try to make it happen. The Utah Jazz are likely a team that will express interest. And it would make sense. Reaves is still emerging as a possible star and would fit as a possible replacement for Jordan Clarkson. However, there are a few red flags about going all-in for Reaves.
For one, there’s no guarantee that he’ll be able to replicate his performance in the postseason from season to season. As good as he was for the Lakers in the postseason, he’s going to be viewed as a gamble for any team that signs him. Additionally, he’s already 25 years old. How much more ceiling does he have to grow as a player? That’s a fair question to ask any inquiring team.
And finally, his restricted free agency status could make him a gamble when it comes to missing out on other free agents.