Austin Reaves is setting his sights on a major payday, and it could make for one of the Lakers’ biggest storylines next summer.
According to NBC Sports’ Kurt Helin, the 27-year-old guard is expected to decline his $14.9 million player option for 2026, even if his preference is to remain in Los Angeles. Reaves is reportedly aiming for a deal in the Tyler Herro range — roughly $30 million per year — and Helin notes that Herro is a fitting comparison in both role and production.
“There is zero chance he is picking up his $14.9 million player option, even if he plans to stay with the Lakers,” wrote Helin. “Reaves reportedly wants to be paid in the Tyler Herro range of $30 million a year (and Herro is a good comp in a lot of ways).”
Reaves went undrafted in 2021, but he’s landed a big role on the Lakers. As he has raised his value over the past four seasons, the Lakers have become more dependent on his game than ever before. Soon, however, the franchise will have to decide his worth when he’s set to decline his $14.9 million player option in 2026.
“If Reaves shows this season that he can be a high-level scorer next to Luka Doncic and can step up his game in the playoffs, the Lakers gladly will pay that much to keep him (and Reaves will want to stay),” continued Helin. “However, if he struggles again in the playoffs, the Lakers may question whether that is the best way to spend their money.”
With averages of 20.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game on 46.0% shooting in 2024-25, it was a career year for Reaves, and he’s expecting to be rewarded with a lucrative, $30+ million salary.
As the third option behind Luka Doncic and LeBron James, the Lakers need Reaves at his best if they want any hope of meeting their title ambitions. While his services will cost a hefty sum, it’s on par with other players at his level, like Tyler Herro, who signed a four-year, $130 million extension in 2022.
With LeBron James’ max contract potentially coming off the books, the Lakers have more than enough space to sign Reaves and potentially bring in another high-value role-player. The problem is that the money might be better off going to someone else.
Next summer, a whole group of stars could be available, including Zach LaVine, Trae Young, James Harden, Kristaps Porzingis, and Draymond Green. That’s not counting veterans like Tobias Harris and Khris Middleton, who have the skills and experience necessary to make a positive impact on the team. Instead of tying their fate to Reaves, they could pursue one or several of those premium targets to create a championship team around Luka Doncic.
Ultimately, the decision on Reaves will come down to how he performs when it matters most. If he proves himself as a reliable third star behind Luka and LeBron, the Lakers will have every reason to keep him long-term. But if his playoff struggles resurface, Los Angeles could decide to spend its cap space elsewhere, making this season a make-or-break year for both his future and the franchise’s next era.
