AI Summary
5 min readThe Los Angeles Lakers have decided to make Austin Reaves a foundational piece, signing him to a four-year, $185 million max contract — the richest deal ever given to an undrafted player in NBA history. Reaves turned down a $14.9 million player option for a 91.9% raise, and the move has sparked a sharp debate about where the Lakers are actually headed.
Ben Maller argues that this contract is a capital-O overpay that locks the Lakers into a future of second-round exits. The central thesis of his critique is that Reaves, for all his regular-season value, is a player who shrinks in the playoffs and cannot be a reliable number-two option on a championship team. Maller is blunt: "The Lakers will never win a title with a starting backcourt of Austin Reaves and Luka Dončić."
The defensive problem that can't be fixed
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What you'll learn
- 1 (02:14) **Lakers Re-Sign Austin Reeves to Max Contract** - Ben Maller opens the hour with the news that Austin Reeves is staying in LA on a four-year, $185 million max deal, the richest contract ever for an undrafted player.
- 2 (08:16) **Thesis: Reeves as a #2 Option Dooms the Lakers** - Maller argues that if Austin Reeves is your second-best player, you cannot win a title.
- 3 (11:29) **"Playoff Austin" Is a Warning Label** - Maller argues Reeves shrinks in high-leverage postseason situations.
- 4 (14:28) **Spurs' "Ultimate Faith" in De'Aaron Fox Is Bookkeeping, Not Belief** - Maller analyzes San Antonio's vote of confidence for Fox after a Finals collapse.
- 5 (19:20) **Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift Wedding Mystery "Solved" by City Permit** - A permit filed in New York City suggests a wedding at Madison Square Garden on July 3rd.
- 6 (36:54) **Insta Trivia: Chase Burns Joins Elite Company** - A baseball trivia question about Reds pitcher Chase Burns.
- 7 (45:04) **Maller to the Third Degree: Three Rapid-Fire Takes** - Ben answers three quick questions from producer Patty.
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Guests on this episode
Show Notes
In Hour 2 of the show, Ben Maller talks about how Austin Reaves got such a lucrative deal to stay in Los Angeles and rips the Lakers for their decision. Plus, Ben also discusses why the Spurs have faith in DeAaron Fox still, we have Maller to the Third Degree, and more!!
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