​  Let’s make one thing clear. When push comes to shove, most NBA players will probably be happy with whatever team they’re on as long as they get the compensation they think they deserve. Everything else, every other little window dressing, it’s all superfluous. All of it. Pay a player what they want, and their heart is yours forever, er, for the duration of their contract.That’s what makes the Los Angeles Lakers’ reported efforts to court Austin Reaves so amusing. Per Shams Charania, the Lakers’ brass apparently made a point to serenade Reaves with his favorite country music while giving him customized “AR” initial pillows. Reaves, of course, wound up signing a new four-year, $184.8 million deal to stay in Los Angeles. So, these unorthodox Lakers efforts surely had to be successful and instrumental … right?Call it a well-informed hunch, but I think it’s actually the exorbitant amount of money that ensured Reaves and his loved ones will never have to work another day in their lives as soon as he leaves the NBA that convinced him to continue wearing purple and gold for the foreseeable future. Not some special throw pillows he, or any Average Joe or Jill, could afford to embroider himself.Ah, but what do I know other than all the examples over the years that would say this sentiment is true?I guess, when you’re trying to secure one of your important franchise players, you think you have to pull out all the stops. Better safe than sorry. In the end, though, retaining a pending free agent is a lot less complicated than you think. Just, you know, show them the money!This article originally appeared on For The Win: Lakers went full cringe to convince Austin Reaves to sign new contract      ​Read More