Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves has been one of the key players for the team in the past few seasons. Seamlessly fitting into the role of the third star on most occasions, Reaves has grown and developed into an invaluable asset.
A main reason why Reaves has so much value for the team is that he has routinely outplayed his contract. His previous contract extension saw him on a four-year, $53 million deal. Given how his earnings increased with each season, Reaves is due to earn a bit below $14 million next season.
The 2026-27 season is where concerns arise for the Purple and Gold.
The 26-year-old has a player option for the final year of his contract. Although he can opt in and accept just below $15 million for the season, there is a greater likelihood that he will opt out and test the waters of free agency, as per Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report. He said:
“Reaves is nearly sure to decline his $14.9 million player option for the 2026-27 season to explore unrestricted free agency next summer, seeking a salary in the $30 million starting range.”
“The most he can extend for ($19.5 million) is far short of that number. Any team acquiring him would need behind-the-scenes assurances that he’d re-sign at a pre-arranged price, although they wouldn’t be technically legal or binding.”
The demand for Austin Reaves has skyrocketed over the past few seasons. The young star has displayed an innate ability to single-handedly revitalize his team’s offense when he is on the floor. Whether this is through his scoring or playmaking ability, his impact on the offensive end is undeniable.
The 2024-25 season was a fruitful one for the guard from a performance point of view. Reaves recorded an average of 20.2 points per game, a massive step up from his average of 15.9 points the previous season. Given that he had embraced a bigger role for the team, he also saw a subsequent rise in his rebounding and assists numbers, averaging 4.5 rebounds and 5.8 assists on 46.0% FG.
The arrival of Luka Doncic on the Lakers meant that Reaves would take on a reduced role, since the Slovenian does more of the same thing that he does. But the guard duo made for a solid backcourt combination for the Lakers to close out the regular season.
Unfortunately, Reaves’ stock took a hit in the playoffs after a series of relatively underwhelming outings. While considering that he was playing with a toe injury, this is understandable. But the Lakers’ guard still took accountability for the poor performances, leading to a 4-1 loss to Minnesota in the first round.
Regardless, the Lakers’ concerns for retaining Reaves next summer will be justified. With rumors speculating that LeBron James may return on a two-year, $105 million deal, the Purple and Gold may not be able to afford Reaves if he demands a $30 million contract.
Reaves’ value on the trade market has also seen him mentioned in several trade rumors in the offseason. Considering that the Lakers are making a play to become title contenders immediately, a trade package including Reaves may be the best way of ensuring that the team lands a superstar in this context.
