Austin Reaves' new four-year, $185 million deal sparked a ton of conversations around the Los Angeles Lakers' management of retaining their star guard. The main topic surrounding the subject was whether the franchise had overpaid to retain their running mate for Luka Doncic.
That was a heavily debated discussion between myself and fellow Lake Show Life writer Maxwell Ogden. The two of us had a spirited back and forth on how the deal stacks up in terms of value in relation to the rest of the NBA stars in an open forum among all other Site Experts on FanSided.
For context: Reaves is projected to be earning around $41.2 million in the first year of his new deal. That would put him around the top-40 of highest paid stars in the NBA for the 2026-27 season.
Is Austin Reaves overrated and overpaid?
The conversation began as a reaction to Detroit Pistons news surrounding Jalen Duren.
Svyatoslav: "That's what the Pistons get for forcing a slight overpay on AR."
Maxwell: “Slight...”
Svyatoslav: "Max, Max. I said what I said and I didn’t stutter. Should've been around $40 AAV. Came in at $46."
A Paul Pierce comparison was thrown around by another Site Expert regarding the idea of players who are tough to comprehend with relation to how they are as good as they are.
Maxwell: "Difference is, Paul Pierce got better in the playoffs, not worse."
Svyatoslav: "Ah yes, God forbid a guy struggles coming off a Grade 2 injury. And what standard are we holding him to? Because he wasn't atrocious by any means."
Maxwell: "It wasn’t just this year, though. His level of play declined the previous two years, too."
Svyatoslav: "He was the only guard who could self-create [out of the backcourt] against OKC, and got literally all their toughest matchups with no Luka. GOD FORBID A MAN IS A LITTLE INEFFICIENT.
I just don't see how you look at either of the last two playoff campaigns and treat it as some damning statement against AR. Last year the Lakers literally had 5 playable guys. This year he came back early from a tough injury and was missing the running mate who helps open up the offense for him. Call it excuses or whatever you like but throwing out that context is so disingenuous."
With the help of other Site Experts, an agreement was made at this point that efficiency does get overrated in the playoffs, especially considering the small sample size against good defenses.
Maxwell: "I hear what you’re saying, but we’re not talking about him as just a player. We’re talking about a $46.25 million salary in a salary-capped NBA. So the question is simply: Can he live up to that standard, which is and always has been playing like a genuine star under healthy circumstances?
This year I’m 100% with you. But the previous two years his quality declined in the playoffs, as well. It’s not that he can’t justify the contract, it’s just that he hasn’t played at a $46.25 million a year level quite yet."
Svyatoslav: "I don't understand the point being made about the two years prior. In 2023-24 Reaves was not held to a star standard. Nor do I see the decline you're talking about.
If you want to isolate 2025 playoffs as a point of struggle, sure, he didn't have a tremendous series against the Minnesota Timberwolves. He was also playing nearly 40 minutes a night because the Lakers had no backups after the Doncic trade.
Where we land is where we've always been. We clearly disagree."
Maxwell: "He was routinely targeted as an isolation defender in 2024 and 2025. And he struggled to create his own offense, as well as play off of his teammates’ offense, in both series despite being in that third option role.
I’m not even trying to knock him, honestly. It’s just uncomfortable to me that he hasn’t delivered at a high level in the playoffs since 2023 and that was three long years ago.
I truly hope he proves me wrong and excels and shuts me up. I just think it was an optimistic pay day at a time when Luka’s future is being decided and I don’t agree with that strategy with so much on the line, even if Luka himself wanted it."
Svyatoslav: "To the Lakers' credit, they reportedly came in at $30 million average to start. When the Pistons started preparing a max for him, it's not like LA had any choice other than paying him. Losing him for nothing would have completely paved the way for Luka's exit.
I hear you on the playoff concerns, I just think they're overplayed in their weight, and can't be held up in a vacuum."
Maxwell: "Fair point. I think $30 million was fair and $35 million was more than acceptable. More than that, and I started to sweat. So, $46.25 million just feels… Whew. But he and Luka get along so maybe it’ll work out."
This debate will only truly get settled on the court. Reaves will have every opportunity to make his case by taking yet another leap in 2026-27.
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