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Austin Reaves expected to hit 2026 NBA free agency

Austin Reaves is projected to become an unrestricted free agent in 2026 due to limitations in the Lakers' ability to offer a competitive extension under the current NBA collective bargaining agreement.

According to ESPN front office insider Bobby Marks, Austin Reaves is on track to become an unrestricted free agent in the 2026 offseason, as the current terms of his contract make it extremely difficult for the Los Angeles Lakers to offer a competitive extension under the league’s collective bargaining agreement.

Austin Reaves

Austin Reaves

Austin Reaves

MIN: 35.21

PTS: 19.95 (56.24%)

REB: 4.55

As: 5.62

ST: 1.06

BL: 0.32

TO: 2.45

GM: 78

Under CBA rules, the Lakers can only offer Reaves a four-year extension worth $89.2 million, with a first-year salary of $19.9 million—a figure capped at 140% of the league’s average salary.

While that number might seem solid on paper, Reaves is likely to attract much higher offers on the open market.

Reaves holds a $14.9 million player option for the 2026–27 season, but all signs point to him declining it in favor of a bigger payday.

The 27-year-old guard just wrapped up a career-best season in 2024–25, averaging 20.2 points, 5.8 assists, and 4.5 rebounds per game while shooting 37.7% from beyond the arc.

Despite a strong year from Reaves, the Lakers were bounced in the first round of the playoffs by the Minnesota Timberwolves. Reaves still put up solid postseason numbers, averaging 16.2 points and 5.4 rebounds over five games.

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