Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves. Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Austin Reaves reveals teams he ‘thought’ about joining before re-signing with Lakers

By Jeff Smith | Last updated 7/21/23

From the outside looking it, Austin Reaves' return to the Los Angeles Lakers appeared to be all but a foregone conclusion. There was little doubt that other teams would have interest in the 25-year-old guard, but the chatter around him potentially even considering another destination wasn't much of a conversation on the rumor mill in free agency.

During his recent appearance on Showtime Basketball's "All The Smoke" with Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson, Reaves essentially confirmed his desire to always stay in Los Angeles. However, he did reveal there were other offers/teams of interest and, when asked, named two teams he "thought" about as a possibility.

"Houston, before Fred [VanVleet] and then San Antonio," Reaves told Barnes and Jackson.

Austin Reaves had two other potential free agent destinations.

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The Spurs were always a team many analysts and insiders believed would make a play for Reaves, but the level at which that would happen remained to be seen. As for the Rockets, it's obvious by seeing their plethora of free-agent signings that they used their available cap space in many ways, but it appears they had an interest in the young Lakers guard as well.

In the end, Reaves will return to the Lakers with a chance for an even bigger role and will likely be the No. 3 option offensively with LeBron James and Anthony Davis, which certainly isn't a bad outlook for any player.

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