The Los Angeles Lakers re-signed a pair of guards Saturday as ESPN reported that D’Angelo Russell will return on a two-year, $37-million deal and The Athletic reported that Austin Reaves will come back on a four-year, $56 million contract.
Russell’s deal includes a player option for the second season, per the report.
ESPN also reported that the Lakers were in agreement with free agent center Jaxson Hayes on a two-year deal.
Reaves, 25, had a breakout season in 2022-23, when he averaged 13.0 points, with 3.0 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 64 games (22 starts). His growth as the season progressed was evident in his playoff numbers when he scored 16.9 points with 4.4 rebounds and 4.6 assists in 16 games, all starts.
In two seasons with the Lakers after he signed as an undrafted free agent, Reaves has averaged 10.2 points with 3.1 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 125 games (41 starts).
Los Angeles reunited with Russell in February when he arrived from the Minnesota Timberwolves in a three-team trade that sent Russell Westbrook to the Utah Jazz. Russell was the Lakers’ first-round draft pick (No. 2 overall) in 2015.
In 17 regular-season games (all starts) with Los Angeles this season, Russell averaged 17.4 points with 6.1 assists. He then played 16 playoff games (15 starts) and scored 13.3 points with 4.6 assists.
In 495 career games (431 starts) over eight NBA seasons, Russell has averaged 17.7 points with 5.7 assists for the Lakers (2015-17, 2023), Brooklyn Nets (2017-19), Golden State Warriors (2019-20) and Timberwolves (2020-23).
Hayes, 23, also will have a player option on the second year of the deal, per the report. Financial terms were not disclosed.
The 6-foot-11 Hayes averaged 5.0 points and 2.8 rebounds in 47 games (two starts) with the New Orleans Pelicans in 2022-23.
Hayes appeared in 241 games (47 starts) and averaged 7.5 points and 4.0 rebounds in four seasons with the Pelicans. He was the No. 8 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft.
Contract agreements with free agents become official July 6, per NBA rules.
It continues a busy start to free agency for the Lakers, who reached deals Friday with Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent, Taurean Prince and Cam Reddish.
–Field Level Media
