As ESPN's Bobby Marks wrote in a piece published on Thursday, the Los Angeles Lakers' top offseason priority is re-signing Austin Reaves. The 27-year-old has a $14.9 million player option for next season he is expected to decline to enter unrestricted free agency. He declined a four-year, $89.2 million extension before the 2025-26 season started, but not because he wants to leave.
Reaves has said on several occasions that he wants to remain in Los Angeles. The decision to turn down the extension stemmed from the fact that he will be eligible to sign for far more money this offseason as a free agent. Just how much? A five-year, $241 million deal.
How much of that $241 Reaves will get will be determined in the offseason, but the Lakers want to get a deal done and know they'll have to pay up to make it happen. Per Marks, they're projected to have $51 million in cap space this summer, so they don't have to worry about not having the finances to retain the guard.
He could always opt to leave in free agency, as Marks noted that the Bulls and Nets are two other teams projected to have significant cap space, and one (or both) could make a run at Reaves, but, respectively, why would he join either squad?
Lakers' top offseason priority is re-signing Austin Reaves
There is only one reality in which Los Angeles should consider losing Reaves this summer, and that's if Giannis Antetokounmpo makes it known he's not willing to sign an extension with Milwaukee. He will be eligible to do so on Oct. 1, but he should have his mind made up before that point. This is Giannis we're talking about, though.
If the Bucks demand Reaves as part of a trade package, the Lakers' front office could cave and move forward with a deal. Maybe Milwaukee would settle for receiving Los Angeles' three first-round picks over the guard. Let us dream!
Lakers fans don't want to think about Reaves leaving, not even in a trade for Giannis (at least not yet). He means a lot to the organization, the city, and the fan base after going from undrafted in 2021 to becoming one of the team's top players, behind Luka Dončić.
Who would've ever thought that an overlooked guard from a small town in Arkansas would be more of a priority than LeBron (who will also be a free agent) himself? To be fair, LeBron is 41, but still. It says a lot about how far Reaves has come.
We all know that the Lakers' offseason focus will be on building around Luka, and retaining Reaves will be a key part of that.