Tim Bontemps of ESPN recently reported that the Minnesota Timberwolves are expected to re-sign Ayo Dosunmu in the range of $15 million per season. Bontemps also reported that the Los Angeles Lakers are likely to pay roughly $40 million per year for Austin Reaves.
It'd be irrational to oppose the notion that Reaves is the more proven player at this point, but it's fair to ask: Can one responsibly argue that Reaves is worth $25 million more per season than Dosunmu?
It's an admittedly difficult question to answer, as there are several factors that play into the discussion. For one, Dosunmu is more of a supporting player at this stage of his career, whereas Reaves is expected to be the second option on offense behind Luka Doncic.
That inherently results in a stark difference between their respective annual salaries, as one player is being paid to support the stars and the other is being asked to play like one.
Uncertainty persists, however, due to the fact that Reaves will turn 29 during the 2026-27 season and hasn't yet reached that All-Star level. He's certainly come close, and is better than a vast majority of NBA shooting guards, but how big is the divide?
In a salary-capped league, the Lakers must be absolutely certain that the potential extra $25 million per season they're spending is money well placed.
Is Austin Reaves worth ~$25 million more per season than Ayo Dosunmu?
Reaves finished the 2025-26 season with averages of 23.3 points, 5.5 assists, 4.7 rebounds, 1.1 steals, and 2.3 three-point field goals made per game. He did so while shooting at a clip of .490/.363/.871. All of those numbers suggest he's due for a pay increase.
Considering Dosunmu is one of the best 3-and-D guards in the NBA, as well as a capable slasher who helped Minnesota win a playoff series, however, the divide of $25 million is simply too significant to simply gloss over.
The Lakers are already paying Luka Doncic a salary that equates to 30 percent of the salary cap. Add Reaves at a starting rate of $40 million and they'll consume more than 50 percent of the cap with just two players. That's not entirely uncommon, but it does limit their flexibility in regard to making other roster improvements.
Compounded by the fact that the Lakers will not have first or second-round picks in 2027 and 2029, even a slight overpay of Reaves could result in lacking the resources to build a balanced rotation.
The optimistic view, of course, is that Reaves could play at a level that leaves these concerns behind and proves he was worth every penny. If he's going to achieve that essential feat, however, he'll need to improve on his past three postseason appearances, during which he's shot at a clip of .427/.287/.870.
One way or another, Dosunmu's rumored market value should give the Lakers a reason to press pause on a potentially overzealous pursuit of re-signing Reaves and reevaluate what his ideal salary is.
Add us as a preferred source on Google