Why Spurs Didn't Sign Lakers' Austin Reaves in Free Agency
The San Antonio Spurs are content with how their offseason has gone, but that doesn't mean they acquired every player they wanted.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves was on the Spurs' radar before he signed a four-year, $56 million contract with the team.
"The Spurs considered offering Reaves a restricted free agency sheet worth $21 million per season, league sources told HoopsHype. Ultimately, however, the Spurs were scared off by the widespread belief that the Lakers would match any offer sheet for Reaves and chose to preserve cap space as a salary dump destination for future draft pick compensation," HoopsHype said.
The Lakers were keen on re-signing Reaves no matter what kind of offer he would have received from other teams, but the Rockets and Spurs certainly would have offered something better than the $56 million he got considering how much cap space both Texas teams have.
Restricted free agency can be tricky and a difficult game to play in the midst of all the unrestricted free agents signing, and the Spurs opted not to play that game.
With that cap space, the Spurs didn't sign outside free agents, but rather became a third team to facilitate trades. San Antonio acquired Cedi Osman, Reggie Bullock and Cam Payne in three separate deals.
Osman and Bullock are players who can help space the floor, while Payne is someone who could do wonders in the pick-and-roll for Victor Wembanyama.
You can follow Jeremy Brener on Twitter @JeremyBrener.
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