Austin Reaves contract extension, Los Angeles Lakers
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Austin Reaves of the Los Angeles Lakers has now put himself in line to be one of the highest-paid players in the NBA with his play this year.
Though he might be considered thethird wheel on thiscurrentLos Angeles Lakers team, AustinReaves has started the 2025-26 NBA season playing at an MVP level.
Yes, he stilldoesn’t create the same headlines as his superstar teammates in LeBron James and Luka Doncic. However, with his play over the past few years, and specifically to start this season, Reaves is now commanding a near-max contract when he hits free agency next season.
The 27-year-old most recently turned down an $89.2 million contract extension from the Lakers earlier this summer, and is now expected to land a deal worth roughly $50 million a year.
Dave McMenamin
New story: Austin Reaves’ hot start hasn’t just set the Lakers’ season up for success. It’s set him up for a major payday this summer. A look inside Reaves impact in L.A. “I want to be here. I want to win.”
“Because NBA rules restrict the Lakers from extending Reaves up to 140% of the average player (four-years, $87.4 million with a starting salary of $19.5 million next season), it ishighly unlikely he will sign a new contractpriorto June 30. The more likely scenario is for Reaves to decline his player option and become an unrestricted free agent,”Bobby Marks wrote for ESPN. “If he does, Reaves will be eligible to sign for up tofive years, $241 million with the Lakers. The Lakers could still have nearly $50 million in cap space even if Reaves signs a new contract.”
Through eight games, Reaves is averaging 30.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, and nine assists per game on 49.1% shooting from the field. While he scored an average of 20 points a night last season, he is now on pace to make his first All-Starappearance and potentially a new max contract.
Austin Reaves Is Setting Himself Up For A Massive Payday
While James and Doncic eachmissed time to start the year, Reaves put the Lakers on his back with a 40-point game, a 50-point near-triple-double, and a game-winner over the teamthat knocked Los Angeles out of the playoffs last year.
Some thought it was bold of him to turn down the $89.2 million offer from Jeanie Buss and Rob Pelinka, but now that looks like the best move of his career. He still has a player option from the $54 million contract he signed a few years ago, but like Marks said, all expectations point to him turning that down to set himself up for a new,near-max deal.
According to Marks and Dave McMenamin, the Lakershave the ability to offer Reaves a larger deal than any other team in the league,that $241 million mark. Teams around the league with potential cap space could offer the guard a deal closer to $178 million over four years, but it is hard to say that is a better deal, especially considering the numerous times the star has pledged his allegiance to his current franchise.
“Reaves is not obsessed over earning every dollar possible on his next deal, sources said, but knows there is a range based on industry standards,”McMenamin wrote for ESPN. “Two of his contemporaries at shooting guard, 26-year-old Jordan Poole and 25-year-old Tyler Herro, signed contract extensions with their original teams in 2022 — Golden State and Miami, respectively — that pay them 20% of the cap.”
TheLakers’ ability to sign Reaves to a bigger deal than any other team is a good sign, and though Doncic is now on a new extension, the uncertainty of James might also free up more cap space.
New Teams In The Mix To Steal Him From The Lakers
As mentioned, the Lakers are in a strong position to keep Reaves this summer, but it is by no means a guarantee that he will suit up in purple and gold by the time next season rolls around.
According to McMenamin, there are multiple teams set up to have a large amount of cap space available, and they could make a push at signing Reaves to a deal with a similar average annual value.
LAbound
Austin Reaves’ ability to manipulate opposing defenses with the ball in his hands has reached elite levels
▪️Stares down Ayton + pass fake to get Kalkbrenner off balance ▪️Then sells the shot until the last nanosecond ▪️Takes 2 defenders with him before hitting Ayton w/lob
“He is eligible to sign for up to four years, $178.5 million with teams who have cap space,”the insider wrote. “ESPN is currently projecting four teams — theBrooklyn Nets, Chicago Bulls,Utah Jazz andWashington Wizards — to have at least $40 million in room this summer.”
The Netswerenamed specificallyas having abig interest in Reaves. Despite their record amount offirst-round picks in the most recent draft and their lack ofdirection going forward, one team executive believes they will make a push for the 30-point-per-game shooting guard.
“AR’s a stud,”an Eastern Conference front office executive told McMenamin. “If I were the Brooklyn Nets, I would throw all the money at him. He has shownwhen he gets the keys to the engine, he can produce.”
Though many may not have expected it when he first joined the team,Reaves’ play over the past 12 months has proven that he will command thenear-max contract both Marks and McMenamin reported on. The Lakers are getting himat great value, but after this summer, they could lose him if the moneyisn’twhat he is hoping for.