Austin Reaves, LAKERS
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Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after the Lakers made a basket against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center on October 26, 2025 in Sacramento, California. Reaves finished with a career high 51 points.
The Los Angeles Lakers may finally be turning a corner as Austin Reaves’ return draws closer during their grueling eight-game “Grammy” road trip — a development that could stabilize a team searching for traction in the early days of the Luka Dončić era.
Speaking to reporters ahead of Saturday’s matchup against the Dallas Mavericks, head coach JJ Redick revealed that Reaves is nearing clearance and could rejoin the lineup as early as the midpoint of the trip.
JJ Redick Hints at Reaves’ Return Timeline
According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, Redick suggested Reaves could be back as soon as the Lakers’ stop in Cleveland.
“JJ Redick says until Austin Reaves is back, which could occur as soon as Cleveland, the Lakers are going to stay with its starting lineup of LeBron James, Luka Dončić, Deandre Ayton, Jake LaRavia and Marcus Smart,” McMenamin reported on X.
Lakers sideline reporter Mike Trudell added that Reaves has continued to check all the boxes in his rehab progression.
“JJ Redick said Austin Reaves responded well to a stay-ready game (typically against the team’s coaching staff) and that they hope to get him one more full-court run tomorrow,” Trudell wrote.
Lakers Have Missed Reaves’ Edge — and Redick Didn’t Mince Words
Reaves has been sidelined since Christmas Day, when he suffered a left calf strain against the Houston Rockets. While his absence hasn’t derailed the season entirely, it has exposed gaps in the Lakers’ offensive rhythm and physicality.
Redick described Reaves’ impact in vivid terms, underscoring what the Lakers have lacked without him.
“In describing part of what the Lakers have missed with Austin Reaves out, JJ Redick described the ‘violence’ that he plays with,” Trudell reported. “Reaves attacks defenses with a combination of IQ, angles and force — first with a knife, then with a sledgehammer.”
Breakout Season on Pause — but Not Forgotten
Before the injury, Reaves was in the midst of the best stretch of his career. Through 23 games, the 27-year-old guard averaged career highs across the board: 26.6 points, 6.3 assists, 5.2 rebounds, and one steal per game, while shooting 50.7% from the field and 36.5% from three.
Los Angeles has gone 11–9 without Reaves, but the timing of his return could be pivotal. The Lakers entered Saturday having won just three of their last 10 games, struggling to maintain consistency as lineups shuffled and roles shifted.
Grammy Trip Sets Stage for Reaves’ Comeback
After facing Dallas, the Lakers continue their road swing Monday in Chicago before a potential Reaves return Wednesday in Cleveland. From there, they travel to Washington to face the Wizards, followed by a marquee showdown with the New York Knicks on Feb. 1, before closing the trip against the Brooklyn Nets on Feb. 3.
A healthy Reaves would immediately slot back into a central role — both on the floor and in the franchise’s broader calculus.
Contract Stakes Add Weight to Reaves’ Return
Reaves declined a four-year, $89.2 million extension last offseason, betting on himself ahead of free agency. If he opts out of his $14.9 million player option for 2026–27, he would become an unrestricted free agent in 2026.
League expectations for his next deal are rising rapidly. Lakers reporter Jovan Buha has projected a contract north of four years, $120 million, while The Athletic’s Dan Woike has suggested Reaves could command north of $40 million annually on the open market.
Bigger Picture: Reaves, Luka, and the Lakers’ Long Game
Reaves’ return also intersects with the Lakers’ long-term ambitions. With Dončić now positioned as the franchise centerpiece, Los Angeles is carefully balancing short-term competitiveness with long-range flexibility.
That backdrop has only intensified as NBA insider Jake Fischer recently reported growing league belief that Giannis Antetokounmpo’s future in Milwaukee is uncertain, with many executives expecting any major move to come around the NBA Draft.
Because of asset constraints, the Lakers are effectively blocked from a credible in-season push. But as Fischer noted, patience could open doors later.
“If the Bucks hold off until the offseason,” Fischer wrote in The Stein Line, “teams such as Miami and the Los Angeles Lakers would have access to more tradeable future first-round picks than those teams can put on the table between now and the Feb. 5 trade buzzer.”
For now, the focus is simpler — and urgent.
Getting Reaves back may be the most important move the Lakers make all season.