This just feels like a false dichotomy? Why are we phrasing this as an either or, the Lakers’ have AR’s bird rights. Their ability to keep both is only restrained by their willingness to stomach the luxury tax.

Luka getting traded was the worst thing to ever happen to him.

If they pay Reeves anywhere near that based on his last 2 playoff runs the lakers are cooked. 

This is going to end so well. Just because players are eligible for max extensions doesn’t mean they should get it

I legitimately think LeBron is still a top 10 guy in the playoffs

Reaves is good, but not $40 million good

Just give me the money instead and make the decision next year

Lakers fam, remind me again.

Has Buha ever had any actual source from behind the Lakers walls?

I only remember this guy just making shit up or trying whatever headlines and takes he finds on twitter and Reddit until one sticks and then he claims some credit.

Won’t win a championship with AR being the second option

If the lakers have watched how the playoffs have played out the last few seasons, the types of players and styles that have been successful and the ones that haven’t, and after all that still view Reaves as a “franchise cornerstone”, they are not serious.

If they Lakers actually want to win a ring with Luka, they need to move on from both. LA isn’t one off-season away from being contender (hence why they might as well move on from LeBron) And Reeves is too weak on the defensive side of the ball to pair well with Luka if/when they get to the playoffs.

My interpretation of LeBron’s statement is that he doesn’t need \(40M if the Lakers are willing to spend the savings on making the team more competitive. I'm not sure how they are going to be able to do that, but it's ridiculous that everyone is acting like LeBron is "demanding" \)40M.

Anyone who thinks Reaves is a good fit with Luka needs their head checking.

He’s a poor version of Luka and is going to cost not much less. Thats stupid roster construction.

As a Spurs fan, fuck the Lakers I hope you do this.

If the Lakers pay AR15 40m/year they will have effectively shut down Lukas championship window.

Why pay a player who isn’t a playoff riser, poor defender, turnover machine, and regular season hero that much money.

Luka needs a real 2nd star who is a two way threat. Rather than Luka lite.

If they’re smart they won’t do either. They need depth and $40m per year can get you several good role players.

Holy shit they’re really gonna punt for the rest of the decade? The blue print for Luka to win is known, and pelinka is just gonna piss all over it. Dudes gotta be the worst gm in the league

You think Bron doesn’t have leverage? lol. Idiot article

40 mil for a guy who would be best utilized as a sixth man.

PELINKA HAS GOT TO GO MY GOD

It’s criminal Reaves isn’t on the Mavs rn from the Luka trade. At least if he were included it wouldn’t make me want to basketball-die every time I think about that trade still.

Ya fuck this I’m still post hate watch clarified, don’t give a shit

Neither tbh, im a lebron guy but if the lakers want to compete they need young depth, AR is great but in the postseason he gets schooled pretty hard by the scouting report.

Love AR but Lakers really need someone who can play alongside Luka AND play defense. Not sure who on the market would make sense.

In the case of Lebron although a \(40M price tag seems ridiculously high I could imagine even purely from a business perspective it would make sense for the Lakers. They easily generate \)100M+ per year in direct/in-direct revenues off Lebron.

I’m not sure how you can see the teams that make deep runs and seriously give Reaves that kind of money. Do they want to build around Luka or just build a vibes team?

40 to Reaves? 40 to LeBron? What? Buha is a hack, always has been.

“Reaves is a solid fit alongside Doncic”

I’m curious how Lakers fans feel about all this, especially given the state of the West.

What if Reaves is Aspiring to get a higher pay in other ways?

In reality there is no market for Reaves at 40M.

I will still argue that Luka/Bron pairing is better than Luka/Reaves.

Of course, we should extend Reaves for whatever price because letting him walk is a bad asset management. I also think the discourse over him is exaggerated. Reaves has said he is okay to take a paycut. Reaves won’t get a 40M.

They can do both as they have Birds on both players. Not an either or situation if they don’t mind paying the taxes.

Why can’t they sign and trade LeBron for picks and/or talent, and resign reaves? They’ve got to figure out a way to get capital back.

They both have limited markets truth be told. I still think we would be insane to not prioritize AR but LeBron has managed to pull off crazier shit before so who knows. Hopefully the dodgers ownership team and consultants know better than the prior group.

LeQuestioningMyLifeDecisions

I really hope Reaves gets $40M a year. Ignore my flair.

\(40M a year for Reaves seems insane to me….he’s a great player but \)40M is absolutely not. He’s just not at that level to command that kind of salary.

Lebron still not getting the hint?

Reaves is not a solid fit next to Luka. If you think Luka and AR can defend Castle and Harper or SGA and Jaylen in a 7 game series … you’re wrong

Luka & Reaves have too much in common, and neither of them are defensive stoppers. They need to find some 3&D guys. I’m not saying they can’t work together, but it’s really not a perfect fit.

This team could legitimately have 4 new starters next year to go with Luka.

To me, the biggest question is Ayton because he has a player option that he might realistically use. It feels like next season will be a wasted year if Ayton is back as the starting center, regardless of whatever other moves they make.

Re-signing Reaves should not really be the top priority. The priority should be adding more defensive players, and finding long-term options at PF & C who will complement Luka’s game.

Are the new owners ever going to get rid of Pelinka?

As a spurs fan, I’d be thrilled if a potential contender hitch themselves to an albatross contract like that and screw themselves for the next half decade. But on the other hand, I’ve been kind of intrigued by the lakers since they got luka dropped in their laps, and they’ve become an interesting 2nd team to watch, so I kind of hope they dont do something stupid like this.

That money is fine. Is the plan that someone will be better in a year so don’t pay AR? Fucking dumb. This is the same bullshit we went through with all you fools for Caruso and again when we sold all the young talent for Brick. I’m so sick of this sub acting like all this talent will just show up because you know they are the Lakers. It’s not. They have to pay like every other team.

Honestly, paying reaves then saying, whoops, we cant afford lebron, lets get some cheap defense first guys around luka, seems like the best option…

I just don’t see a world where Austin is traded. We have his bird rights so we can sign everyone else before we sign him to get the most out of the cap, and AR is Luka’s best friend in LA. The Lakers’ whole identity is doing our stars right and it doesn’t make sense to cut that relationship off especially with how Luka ended up here/his current personal situation

Sir, this is a Wemby sub.

Keeping reaves at that money aint it. They better trade him for players that fit Luka.

He’s a great player but Luka, Reaves backcourt at that price is gonna get destroyed by OKC and Spurs guard rotation.

I love how these comments are full of people who don’t even have basic understanding of the cap telling an nba front office how to run their team lol. The lakers make yall say the dumbest sht 

If LBJ returns, are we stuck with. mini me for another year?

Pls do both. Why not complete scree your franchise. Massive overpay for both.