The message about Austin Reaves leading up to the start of the 2025 offseason has been consistent and clear. Rob Pelinka is committed to the Los Angeles Lakers guard.
Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times wrote, "The team has shown no interest in using Reaves in a trade that nets them anything less than a top-tier big, and there really aren’t any of those available."
Jovan Buha of The Athletic similarly stated that Reaves has experienced enough growth to keep him with the team moving forward. The Lakers insider noted that 'his ascension this season appears to have cemented his status as part of their core.'
Even Luka Doncic hinted at the importance of Reaves on an episode of Mind the Game. The Lakers superstar point guard ensured to include the rising star as a part of the equation when discussing the 'work in progress' around his fit with Los Angeles.
Reaves is certainly valued by the organization. That much is clear. However, the important question of what happens in 2026 cannot get lost in the shuffle here.
Reaves' looming free agency is a terrifying prospect for the Lakers
By now, everyone should know an extension is not getting done for Reaves. The best price the Lakers guard could get on one of those is far short of what next year's free agency could do for him.
This felt especially true to Sam Vecenie and Bryce Simon of the Game Theory Podcast. The pair discussed Reaves' looming contract decision and why it made way too much sense for Reaves to test the open market in 2026.
"Austin Reaves is going to get 30 to $40 million next year, ... probably closer to 40," Vecenie told listeners of the show. "That's a non-extendable contract this summer. If I'm him, there's a chance Austin Reaves is the most coveted, sought-after free agent in the summer of 2026."
At first, Vecenie's claim of Reaves being near the top of that list comes across as overexaggerating. However, given some thought, it is not the most ludicrous idea in the world.
HoopsHype currently ranks Reaves at 18th for the 2026 free agent class. However, there are a multitude of factors that can actually debunk that low ranking pretty quickly.
Players like Doncic, Paolo Banchero, Jaren Jackson Jr., Jalen Williams, De'Aaron Fox, Chet Holmgren, and a handful of others should be expected back with their teams after sorting out their contracts. Players like LeBron James and Kevin Durant are old enough to be short-term additions, if available.
Other options such as James Harden and Damian Lillard are declining and anticipated to show even more signs of it. Then, players like Norman Powell, Mikal Bridges, Kristaps Porzingis, and Nikola Vucevic are all downright questionably ranked above Reaves.
In terms of being 'coveted', the Lakers' borderline star will be entering his prime and potentially still ascending upwards. That should put Reaves near the top of the free agent list for a lot of teams across the league.
Can the Lakers hand him a contract where both parties are equally satisfied with the number involved? After enjoying the bargain of deal that Reaves is currently on, this situation can prove to be a near impossible problem in 2026.