Rockets Nearly Signed Lakers' Austin Reaves in Free Agency
The Houston Rockets had their sights set on Fred VanVleet as their top free agent option this offseason, but that doesn't mean he was their only target.
Of course, the Rockets' free agency class also featured Dillon Brooks, Jock Landale, Jeff Green and Aaron Holiday, but Houston had their eye on Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves if VanVleet didn't materialize.
"The Rockets were also closely monitoring Reaves’ situation because they were prepared to make a big offer sheet if Fred VanVleet didn’t sign with them, sources said," HoopsHype said.
The Rockets also would have had competition from the San Antonio Spurs for his services, but the former undrafted guard re-signed with the Lakers on a four-year, $56 million extension.
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.
We will never know what type of role Reaves would have had alongside Jalen Green, Kevin Porter Jr. and Amen Thompson in the Houston backcourt, but the team certainly would have looked different than it does at the moment.
You can follow Jeremy Brener on Twitter @JeremyBrener.
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