Hollywood loves a good feature story. Austin Reaves and his next contract is quickly becoming just that for the Los Angeles Lakers. New intel reignited some of the fears that are held about the developing situation.
Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report wrote, "Reaves is nearly sure to decline his $14.9 million player option for the 2026-27 season to explore unrestricted free agency next summer, seeking a salary in the $30 million starting range. The most he can extend for ($19.5 million) is far short of that number."
Pincus' statement suddenly works towards contextualizing the recent comments made from Reaves' agent. They now sound like the words of a man who is getting ready to secure a big pay day for his client.
Aaron Reilly said, "Next year is going to be a show. People really have no idea what’s to come. Keep putting him in trade rumors for second string centers."
Looming contract decision raises several questions for Lakers
There are numerous important factors to consider when it comes to figuring out how Reaves fits into the financial table in Los Angeles. The biggest ones surround the two superstars who currently hold a higher station than him: Luka Doncic and LeBron James.
Doncic would currently be projected for around $49 million on the books in the 2026-27 season, if the Lakers superstar were to pick up his player option. However, one would hope the six-time All-NBA member would be locked up with a brand-new extension instead.
That would mean Doncic would probably be on the books for a higher figure than what his player option has him slated for, albeit not by a monstrous difference. A figure upwards of $50 million would be the projection.
Then comes the question of if James is still around for the 2026-27 season. After performing at an All-NBA level in 2024-25, the all-time great continues to push back the talk of retirement. Should LeBron still be around and collecting max money, that would give two players for the Lakers to navigate around financially.
If Rob Pelinka were to offer Reaves the max as a free agent, even with the salary cap expected to go up over the next few seasons thanks to the new TV deal, that would still put the Lakers in a tough financial position to navigate. Of course, once James retires things become a bit easier.
However, the Lakers would be in a spot where the future is largely tied to a duo of Doncic and Reaves leading the way. Is that good enough for Los Angeles?
The major questions that arise from the conversations around paying Reaves are whether investing in this current trio gives the team a championship ceiling. The same thought remains relevant for life after James.
The thought of Reaves walking for nothing is not a particularly comfortable one either, with the expectation that the Lakers guard will decline his option. There is no doubt that seeing the talented offensive guard just outright sign with another team would be an absolute nightmare for Pelinka.
Whichever way the Lakers decide to go with this decision, it will not be an easy path to walk.