The strongest grassroots counterattack! Directly marked as not for sale to the Lakers! Only Giannis Jokic can replace him

If you go back in time to four years ago, can you believe that Austin Reeves, the undrafted guard who is 1.96 meters tall, weighs 89 kilograms, has a wingspan of 1.98 meters, a standing reach of 2.57 meters, and a run-up jump of 0.89 meters, will one day make a name for himself with the Lakers?

It is no exaggeration to say that at that time, almost no one was optimistic that Reeves could establish himself in the NBA, let alone become the core of the team with the Lakers. After all, you are in Los Angeles, the second largest city in the United States where everyone wants to play ball. One can imagine how cruel competition Reeves had to face, but he finally got through it!

Today, four years later, Austin Reeves not only completed a grassroots counterattack with the Lakers, but he should soon be able to sign the largest contract for an undrafted NBA player. Currently, the largest contract for an undrafted NBA player is the three-year, $128.5 million contract signed by Rockets point guard Fred VanVleet with the Rockets.

According to Lakers reporter Ashish Mathur, Austin Reeves is expected to decline his player option for the 2026-27 season and become an unrestricted free agent next summer. An NBA team executive revealed that Reeves will sign a five-year contract extension worth US$150 million with the Lakers to stay in Los Angeles. Therefore, it is foreseeable that Reeves will break the record for the largest contract for an undrafted draft pick!

Last season, Reeves played 73 regular season games on behalf of the Lakers, averaging 34.9 minutes per game, contributing 20.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 1.1 steals, and 0.3 blocks. He shot 46% from the field, 37.7% from the three-point range, and 87.7% from the free throw line. Since Reeves averaged 20+4+5+1 star data per game throughout the season, this also won him the title of the strongest three players in the league.

As everyone knows, Reeves, who had a career explosion last season, will continue to evolve this season. So far this season, Reeves has played 8 games for the Lakers, averaging a career-high 30.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, 9 assists and 1.5 steals per game. His three shooting percentages are 48.0%/32.4%/88.0% respectively.

According to statistics, when Reeves and Doncic are on the same court this season, the Lakers' offensive efficiency is as high as 124.6, which ranks first in NBA history. There is no doubt that the Lakers are currently able to achieve the fourth record in the Western Conference with 8 wins and 3 losses, and Reeves and Doncic are the main contributors! At the same time, this also bought James, who was on the injured bench, more time to recuperate.

There is no doubt that Reeves has had the strongest performance of his career this season! The Lakers also struggled to get through the days when James was absent because of his super explosion. With James about to return from injury for his first show of the season, and the Big Three of Doncic, James Reeves, and the combination of the Big Three, the Lakers are bound to make waves in the Wild West!

Just imagine, the Lakers without James can achieve the top four records in the Western Conference. When Lao Zhan returns and the Big Three merge, the Lakers' combat effectiveness will be even stronger than now. Therefore, it seems reasonable that their results are blooming and improving!

Of course, Reeves is now able to play so prosperously in Los Angeles, which is also due to the unwavering trust and support of the Lakers management in him, because the 2021 undrafted player has now been listed as not for sale by the Lakers!

According to Lakers reporter Ashish Mathur, league sources revealed that the Lakers have rejected more than 20 trade offers for Austin Reeves since last season.

Of course, Austin Reeves is not a Laker and definitely not for sale! According to team reporter Ashish Mathur, a league insider revealed that the Lakers will only trade Austin Reeves if they trade Antetokounmpo or Nikola Jokic, and both players are unlikely to be traded this season. Therefore, this further strengthens Reeves' status as a non-for-sale commodity in the Lakers team.

From a little-known undrafted player, to the top three players in the league, to the Lakers not for sale, and about to sign the largest contract for an undrafted player, Austin Reeves has undoubtedly completed the strongest grassroots counterattack in the NBA! How good Reeves will become in the future, we have no way of knowing at this time. Perhaps, the sky is his limit!