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Los Angeles Lakers
Miami Heat
Aug 13, 2025 9:52 PM EDT
As we get deeper into the summer and most actual NBA activity comes to a standstill, it can be beneficial to take a moment to look back. And then to look forward. For the Lakers, probably no player is worth both a look back and a look forward more than Austin Reaves, the one-time undrafted guard from Oklahoma who managed to carve out a starring role for himself in the NBA despite significant odds working against him.
Really, what are the chances that a fifth-year Sooners senior who shot 30.5% from the 3-point line in his final college season and did not get a sniff in the NBA draft would go on to be a Lakers starter?
Reaves averaged 20.2 points last season, and was seen as the third leg of a Lakers offense that was potent after acquiring Luka Doncic from the Mavericks.
Austin Reaves Needs to Be Paid
But now the Lakers need to pay Reaves (who has a player option after the coming season), and things will get complicated here. For one thing, it was always going to be difficult to figure out how much Reaves should get, given his lack of a deep pedigree and his sudden rise in the rotation. It’s even harder now that the new CBA has put serious teeth into the luxury tax, with its aprons and its severe team-building penalties.
Still, as NBC Sports reports, Reaves is going to want to match the contract given to Heat star Tyler Herro, who was the No. 13 overall pick from Kentucky and has an All-Star game to his credit. Herro is in the midst of a four-year, $120 million contract.
NBC Sports writes: “Reaves reportedly wants to be paid in the Tyler Herro range of $30 million a year (and Herro is a good comp in a lot of ways). If Reaves shows this season that he can be a high-level scorer next to Luka Doncic and can step up his game in the playoffs, the Lakers gladly will pay that much to keep him (and Reaves will want to stay). However, if he struggles again in the playoffs, the Lakers — who will have a lot of cap space — may question whether that is the best way to spend their money.”
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Lakers Likely to Balk at $30 Million Per Year
The problem is, Herro was given that contract well before the aprons became a reality, and almost as soon as the Heat doled it out to him, they were trying to trade him. Perhaps it is a fair deal, but it is not one the Heat would likely want to give out again.
Would the Lakers feel the same about a potential Reaves contract?
Not likely, not in today’s tighter financial environment.
As one GM put it: “You can’t just say, ‘Well, he averages 20 (points) so he needs to get $30 (million) per year.’ No. You’re going to have to take these negotiations more seriously. You’re going to have to be realistic about what a guy is worth, on both ends of the floor, before you put a number out there. And Austin Reaves should get $24, $25 (million) a year. Not $30.
“It matters.”
About the Author
Sean Deveney