Austin Reaves, Lakers
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Austin Reaves of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after the Lakers made a basket.
The Los Angeles Lakers are set to regain a critical piece of their rotation Tuesday night, with guard Austin Reaves expected to return against the Brooklyn Nets in the finale of the team’s eight-game Grammy trip.
According to The Athletic’s Dan Woike, Reaves “tested the calf pregame and wants to play.” ESPN’s Dave McMenamin added that Reaves will come off the bench under a minutes restriction after missing 19 games with a Grade 2 left calf strain suffered on Christmas Day against the Houston Rockets.
“We’ve missed him in every facet,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said Tuesday.
Reaves’ return comes at a pivotal moment for a Lakers team searching for stability and continuity as the trade deadline approaches and the Western Conference standings tighten.
Austin Reaves’ Return Looms Large for Lakers’ Offense
Before the injury, Reaves was playing the most efficient and productive basketball of his career. Through 22 games, the 27-year-old averaged 27.3 points, 5.4 rebounds, 6.5 assists and 1.0 steals while shooting 50.4% from the field and 36.4% from three-point range.
Those numbers firmly established Reaves as a core offensive pillar alongside Luka Dončić and LeBron James, giving Los Angeles three reliable decision-makers capable of initiating offense, creating advantages and closing games.
James, who repeatedly pointed to Reaves’ absence during the Lakers’ uneven stretch, did not mince words when discussing his value.
“Unfortunately, our All-Star two-guard has been out for a minute,” James said after Sunday’s loss in New York. “That’s a big piece for our team. So it’s just kind of hard to see what we really, truly can be.”
Lakers’ Grammy Trip Ends With Much-Needed Reinforcement
Reaves had been upgraded to questionable earlier in the road trip but did not play in Washington or New York, where the Lakers took a split. Since his injury, Los Angeles is 10-9 and has struggled to consistently generate offense late in games or maintain defensive structure with makeshift lineups.
In practical terms, Reaves’ return may represent the Lakers’ most impactful “addition” at a trade deadline that has remained quiet for the franchise.
Dončić, speaking last week after a win in Chicago, emphasized how Reaves’ presence changes the geometry of the floor.
“He gives us three decision-makers on the court that have great talent,” Dončić said. “We can’t wait to have him back. He’s been working out. I saw him. I think he wants to be back, too.”
Contract Year Adds Weight to Austin Reaves’ Return
Reaves’ return also carries long-term implications beyond this season.
The guard declined a four-year, $89.2 million extension last offseason, opting to bet on himself. If he declines his $14.9 million player option for the 2026–27 season, Reaves would become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2026.
League expectations for his next deal have only grown since then. Lakers reporter Jovan Buha has projected Reaves could command a contract north of four years, $120 million, while Woike has suggested his market value could exceed $40 million annually.
That financial backdrop underscores why Reaves’ health and performance over the final stretch of the season will be closely monitored — not just by the Lakers, but across the league.
What Austin Reaves Means for Lakers’ Second-Half Outlook
While Reaves will be eased back into action on Tuesday, his presence immediately reshapes the Lakers’ rotation. His ball-handling alleviates pressure on Dončić, his off-ball shooting creates spacing for James, and his competitiveness on defense stabilizes perimeter assignments.
For a team navigating injuries, a quiet trade deadline and a crowded playoff race, Reaves’ return offers clarity — and a reminder of what the Lakers look like when whole.
Whether that proves enough to elevate Los Angeles in the West remains to be seen. But as the Grammy trip ends, the Lakers finally welcome back one of the most important pieces of their puzzle.