LA Lakers Rumors: Young star interested in signing a new deal with Purple and Gold

The LA Lakers have some tough decisions to make in the offseason. Young players such as D'Angelo Russell, Rui Hachimura and Austin Reaves can enter free agency. The latest rumors suggest that Reaves is interested in signing a new contract with the Lakers.

According to Jovan Buha of The Athletic, the Lakers and Reaves are interested in making a new deal. Reaves will be a restricted free agent at the end of the season, with the Lakers having the ability to use his Early Bird Rights. The Lakers can also match any offers Reaves receives in free agency.

With the way Reaves is playing this season, it's possible for other suitors to swoop in this summer. It happened with Alex Caruso in 2021 and it could happen again. The maximum contract the Lakers can offer Reaves is a four-year, $50 million deal.

In addition to Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura will also be a restricted free agent. The Lakers can offer Hachimura a qualifying option worth around $8.4 million. However, the Japanese star could also sign with other teams and the Lakers will need to match it to retain him.

Meanwhile, D'Angelo Russell will be an unrestricted free agent. Russell has the ability to sign with any team and the Lakers can't do anything about it. Despite Russell's impending free agency, both sides are reportedly interested in getting a new deal signed, per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

"D'Angelo Russell returns at the Lakers at 26 years old and in the final year of a four-year, $117 million contract," Wojnarowski said. "I think both the Lakers and D'Angelo Russell have already expressed to each other an interest in starting a conversation on a contract extension.

"Russell could be a free agent this summer but the Lakers traded for him giving up as part of that package a first-round pick and two second-round picks not to be a rental."

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Austin Reaves carries LA Lakers in win over Orlando Magic

Austin Reaves of the LA Lakers

Fresh off a heartbreaking loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Friday, the LA Lakers needed a win against the Orlando Magic. Still without LeBron James, the Lakers struggled to pull away from the Magic and the game was close in the final moments of the game.

With Anthony Davis a non-factor, the Lakers turned to Austin Reaves, who was more than ready to carry the team. Reaves finished with a career-high 35 points off the bench. He also had six rebounds and six assists, while also going 16-for-18 from the free-throw line.

It was an important win for the LA Lakers (35-37) who are in a very tight race in the Western Conference standings. At least six teams are battling for the four play-in tournament spots that give them the chance to make the postseason.