The Los Angeles Lakers are approaching a decision that will play a direct role in the success or shortcomings of the Luka Doncic era. Austin Reaves will be eligible for unrestricted free agency in 2026 and has thus become an option to [either extend or re-sign](https://lakeshowlife.com/austin-reaves-extension-decision-already-made-and-lakers-need-plan) at a later date.
In a new set of player rankings for the shooting guard position, the dilemma that will define the Lakers' best course of action was thoroughly, even if perhaps inadvertently, outlined.
Reaves has steadily improved throughout each of his first four NBA seasons. That came to a head in 2024-25, when he averaged career-best marks of 20.2 points, 5.8 assists, 4.5 rebounds, 1.1 steals, and 2.7 three-point field goals made while shooting at a clip of .460/.377/.877.
In response to his success, [HoopsHype has ranked Reaves](https://www.hoopshype.com/story/sports/nba/2025/08/11/nba-top-26-shooting-guards-for-2025-26-edwards-booker-mitchell/85610848007/) as the No. 9 shooting guard in the NBA—ahead of players such as Desmond Bane, Dyson Daniels, Zach LaVine, and Coby White.
Much could be said and debated about how Reaves compares to the aforementioned players, including those with whom he shares similarities. The bigger picture, however, comes into frame when evaluating the players directly ahead of and behind him: Josh Hart and LaVine.
Some might debate if Hart is actually a shooting guard, but the rankings offer insight that could help the Lakers decide how much to pay Reaves based on his apparent positional comparisons.
HoopsHype ranks Austin Reaves as ninth-best shooting guard in NBA
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There couldn't be a better summarization of the Lakers' dilemma than Hart and LaVine bookending Reaves in the rankings. Hart and LaVine play vastly different roles and are on contracts that exist in different stratospheres.
One might make the case that the answer is thus to pay Reaves somewhere in between what Hart and LaVine are making, but the true question is which path he's more likely to head down.
Hart is a defensive specialist capable of stuffing the stat sheet with well-rounded contributions, including midrange magic and proficiency as a passer and rebounder. LaVine is an explosive scorer known to prioritize offense over defense, with a peak season of 27.4 points per game fueling his reputation.
Hart is preparing for the second season on a four-year, $80,915,280 contract, while LaVine will enter the fourth campaign on a five-year, $215,159,700 deal in 2025-26.
Chances are, Reaves will, in fact, sign for a figure that rests somewhere in between Hart's average annual salary of $20,228,820 and LaVine's $43,031,940. He's still just 27 years of age and has increased his averages in every traditional box score area between every season he's played thus far.
The question is simple: Does Reaves truly offer value that combines what Hart and LaVine bring to the table, or is it just a matter of rewarding production?
Austin Reaves slots between Josh Hart and Zach LaVine—and his contract likely will, too
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The reality of team-building in a salary-capped league is that Reaves' financial value to the Lakers depends entirely on how he complements Luka Doncic. While LaVine signed his contract after the Chicago Bulls effectively named him as their franchise player, Reaves projects to be a clear-cut No. 2 once LeBron James retires.
Hart may thus be a better comparison in terms of value and expectations, as he's held to the standard of complementing Jalen Brunson rather than having the team built around his own game.
Offensively, Reaves is an ideal player to invest in as a backcourt partner for Doncic. Doncic reached the 2022 Western Conference Finals while sharing a backcourt with Brunson and made it to the 2024 NBA Finals with Kyrie Irving—offensive specialists themselves.
That's provided a strong sample size of evidence to support the belief that Doncic can thrive alongside guards who create for themselves and others while shooting efficiently.
As the NBA continues to evolve, however, defensive consistency has become a non-negotiable for supporting players on true contenders. As such, the Lakers must weigh the fact that Reaves has thus far struggled to provide that bare minimum quality in the way even Irving managed to during the 2024 NBA Playoffs.
History proves Doncic can overcome the odds, but Reaves would effectively need to provide the peak performances that two All-NBA players have managed. That's a tall task and an ambitious goal he's yet to realize.
As such, ranking directly in between Hart and LaVine is an appropriate development that reflects what Reaves must change about his game and how the Lakers can realistically value him.