NBA Free Agency, Day 2: Lakers re-sign Austin Reaves, D'Angelo Russell, add Jaxson Hayes

NBA free agency is barely 48 hours in the books, and the Lakers have managed to tie up more or less all of the loose ends facing them when the period began. The 1a priority was retaining Austin Reaves and 1b was retaining D'Angelo Russell, and by lunchtime on the west coast, both were in the bag. Russell is reportedly returning on a two-year deal worth $37M, with a player option for the second season. A fair deal that offers flexibility on both sides, and should allow Russell to settle into a comfort zone where he can bounce back from a Western Conference Finals that left a bad taste in everyone's mouth. As for Reaves, it was never a question of whether he'd be back, but at what price, as the Lakers and Team Reaves waited to see if another franchise called the Lakers' messaging of a willingness to match any offer for the restricted free agent. As it turned out, things just got wrapped up posthaste. Four years, $56M, with a player option for the last season. Assuming Reaves continues to improve - or even just maintains status quo - that's a straight up bargain, folks.

From there, the Lakers added big man Jaxson Hayes on a two-year, veteran's minimum deal, with a player option for the second season. The youngster has a lot of athleticism and hops, and showed flashes in New Orleans, but has been marred by tons of inconsistency. Hopefully, Phil Handy, Darvin Ham, LeBron James and the Lakers' general culture can unlock the best in Hayes, because unless another big man is brought on board at a vet min who outplays him, Hayes will need to hold down the important position of "backup center/dude who fills in during Anthony Davis' inevitable absences."

All that said, two days of nice work for Rob Pelinka, who has the team, at minimum, in as good of a place as where they left off after the WCF loss.

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

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