Four years, $89.2 million — that was the contract extension Austin Reaves declined before the 2025-26 NBA season even started. Granted, that was never expected to go any other way. The Los Angeles Lakers knew Reaves would not take that deal.
That was the price point that NBA CBA rules allowed the Lakers to offer him for an extension. Given the opportunity, it's safe to estimate they would have broken open the piggy bank for a whole lot more. Why wouldn't they? Reaves continually proves his worth over and over.
Thursday night against the Philadelphia 76ers was just the latest example of that. Luka Doncic was forced to exit the game early with a hamstring injury. The second half was all about Reaves.
The Lakers started wrestling away control of the game in the third quarter and Reaves' shot-making and offense was a huge part of that for Los Angeles. The star guard finished with 35 points, shooting 12-of-17 from the field and 5-of-8 from beyond the arc, in just 25 minutes played.
Every time Reaves is thrust into an expanded role or heightened responsibility, he thrives. In the process, the Lakers star shows time and time again why the payday will be much larger than just $89 million.
Austin Reaves' new contract with the Lakers should be a formality
Perhaps in the current NBA CBA climate the Lakers can't just simply afford to hand Reaves a blank check and tell him to write a number. However, it's reasonable to conclude that dollar value will still be pretty close to whatever is desired from the camp of the 27-year-old.
Reaves has done all the work for his agents already. Their lives can be free of any stress that would come from representing their client in Los Angeles, especially now that Jaren Jackson Jr. was traded elsewhere (sorry Rich Paul).
Giannis Antetokounmpo aside, there are few better partners that one could envision for the Doncic era in Los Angeles than Reaves. It's been said before, but Kyrie Irving and Jalen Brunson are both players who have thrived next do Luka. Reaves can do the same.
The Lakers are going to have a ton of money for this offseason. While a big focus of that cash flow will be to retool around Doncic, a large chunk of that should be immediately set aside for the brand-new deal that Reaves is due to sign.