The Los Angeles Lakers highly value Austin Reaves.
Just how much, you ask? Sources told Lakers Daily that the Lakers have rejected over 20 trade offers for Reaves since last season.
“The Lakers are only going to trade Austin for Giannis or Jokic,” one Lakers source said. “And neither of those guys is getting traded this season.”
Reaves is expected to decline his player option for the 2026-27 season to become an unrestricted free agent next offseason. One NBA executive told Lakers Daily that he thinks the undrafted guard will sign a five-year, $150 million deal to remain in Los Angeles.
During Lakers media day, Reaves told Dave McMemain of ESPN that he wants to spend his entire career in Los Angeles. Reaves has close relationships with LeBron James, Luka Doncic and JJ Redick, sources told Lakers Daily.
“Like I’ve said a million times today already, I wanna be here,” Reaves said. “I wanna figure this out, and I wanna be a Laker for life. So, that’s the main thing. Turning down $90 million is something I never thought that I would do. … But at the end of the day, it’s a business, but like I said, I love LA.
“They’ve treated me very, very well since I’ve been here, the fans, the organization. So, I have nothing but respect and gratitude for all them and I wanna be here.”
Reaves is off to a stellar start this season. He’s averaging a career-high 30.3 points per game while shooting 48.0 percent from the field, 32.4 percent from beyond the arc and 88.0 percent from the free-throw line.
The Lakers signed Reaves to a four-year, $53.8 million contract in July 2023. The San Antonio Spurs were interested in signing Reaves that offseason. They will likely pursue Reaves again next offseason, although the prevailing thought in NBA circles is that Reaves will remain with the Lakers.