Lakers' Austin Reaves' risky playoff decision could lead to $241M contract, says LA insider originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Los Angeles Lakers are preparing for their upcoming playoff series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, which is expected to be a tough matchup. One positive development is the return of Austin Reaves during the series against the Houston Rockets, giving Los Angeles one of its top scorers back.

“Austin Reaves returned from a nine-game injury absence Wednesday night when the Los Angeles Lakers attempted to finish their first-round playoff series with the Houston Rockets in Game 5. Reaves had been out since April 2 with strained oblique muscles, missing the final five games of the Lakers' regular season and the first four games of the postseason,” ESPN wrote.

Reaves will become a free agent after the season, and his focus will be on earning the contract he deserves. He has made it clear, however, that he does not want to leave Los Angeles.

“I try not to think about it. Honestly. I've said it a million times. I want to be in L.A. I love it," Reaves told ESPN. "Even though the other extension was turned down, that doesn't mean that I'm trying to go get a f---ing gigantic number that don't make sense. I want to be here, I want to win. I want to do everything that can help this organization be better. So I don't try to think about those things."

There is growing belief that Reaves playing through an oblique injury could strengthen his case for a major payday from the Lakers.

“The 27-year-old is trying to get paid what he deserves. The Lakers want to keep him in Los Angeles, and that desire should have grown after Reaves rushed back to help his team finish off the Rockets in the opening round of the playoffs. Other players wouldn’t have done this. Reaves could earn $241 million if he lands a max contract this summer. That could have gone out the window if he suffered an injury that kept him out months, but AR didn’t care. He saw an opportunity to help his team make a playoff run, and he did everything possible to take it,” Lake Show Life’s Tyler Watts wrote.

The Lakers understand that Reaves is playing through a significant injury, and that effort could be rewarded. Los Angeles will need his scoring in the series against Oklahoma City.

LeBron James has been dominant, and having Reaves alongside him could create major problems for opposing defenses. Even beyond his production, Reaves’ willingness to play through injury may ultimately factor into the sizable contract he could receive this summer.

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