Lakers News: Reporters Reveal Just How Close Rival Came To Austin Reaves Max Offer

A familiar rival almost pulled the trigger!

The Los Angeles Lakers are often viewed as a common enemy among most Western Conference franchises as they have had a long history of success over most of them for decades and the San Antonio Spurs are quite familiar with this. We have witnessed a number of playoff battles between the Spurs and Lakers over the years and with the likes of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobli leading the way, it was never easy for the purple and gold.

San Antonio has never really looked to help the Lakers via the trade market and even when superstar Kawhi Leonard wanted out of the franchise, the Spurs' front office reportedly rejected LA's generous offer of Brandon Ingram and others and accepted a smaller deal from the Raptors.

And now that the Spurs are in the midst of a re-build and will have Victor Wembanyama leading the way for them soon. However, before Austin Reaves re-signed with the Lakers on a four-year deal worth $56 million, San Antonio was a squad that was rumored to potentially him a nice offer sheet. We now know that did not happen and that's why LA did not have to pay a ton to get him.

"The Lakers got very, very lucky that nobody made them pay for the nose," said Lowe. "I know San Antonio was going back and forth on it. And for whatever reason didn't do it."(Via The Lowe Post)

It's great to know that nobody really believed that Reaves was going to leave LA this summer and it probably helped that LA made it clear that they would match any offer up to $100 million.

He will have the ball in his hands a lot more as the Lakers want to use him more in a combo guard role. His 2023-2024 campaign will be very exciting!

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