Austin Reaves, Lakers
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Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves gestures toward the bench as attention around his future has intensified.
The Los Angeles Lakers will have to make some big decisions in the upcoming offseason with a couple of big free agents. LeBron James and Austin Reaves are expected to hit free agency and require new contracts to remain in Los Angeles. Rumors suggest James is more likely to leave or take a smaller contract to help the team contend for an NBA Championship if he does want to end his career there.
However, Reaves is going to need a long-term contract worth more money. Lakers Daily reported the following optimistic news about Reaves’ future with the Lakers:
“The Lakers reportedly plan to offer Austin Reaves a 5-year, $240 million contract this offseason and have “no fear” of losing him in 2026 free agency.”
Most pundits expect Reaves to get a big contract, but this report indicates he can make an average of $48 million per year over the next five years. The Lakers offering Reaves this much money would confirm that they believe in him as a huge part of the future. Luka Doncic and Reaves getting paid as the top two stars would require Reaves to be an All-Star caliber player every season.
Lakers’ Offer Would Hurt Other Teams
Reports indicate that the Utah Jazz view Reaves as a dream free agent target to build the roster around him. Utah hopes to add Reaves to the core of Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson, and Keyonte George as their main players hoping to make the playoffs next season.
The Lakers plan to outspend Utah and other teams with cap space hoping to take the chance of tempting Reaves away in free agency. Rebuilding teams like the Jazz and Brooklyn Nets would typically make sense for a player like Reaves. The numbers for Reaves were incredible during stints without Luka and LeBron sharing the workload to wonder if he’d like his “own” team.
However, the Lakers still have the most money and reportedly hold “no fear” of losing him. Players can get a little more money staying with their team over a new place if that franchise is willing to offer it. Los Angeles appears ready to give Reaves his dream to remain as Luka’s sidekick.
How This Impacts Other Lakers Moves
The Lakers can have about $112 million off the books of the current players with contracts ending or clauses that could end the deal early. Reaves, James, Rui Hachimura, and Luke Kennard are some of the larger contracts to end or potentially end after this season.
Reaves making close to $50 million would eat into the spending, but they’d have enough to improve the role players across the rotation. Building around Doncic requires stronger defenders and elite shooting around him for the offense to thrive.
The Lakers will have a chance to add three or four strong role players, if they fully turn over the roster. Some current names could re-sign on team-friendly deals and give them the chance to still improve their depth. James will be the biggest domino after they sign Reaves to a new deal. Time will tell if LeBron gets an offer he likes or ends his career elsewhere.