The Los Angeles Lakers have known for months that Austin Reaves will decline his player option before the June 29 deadline to become an unrestricted free agent. AR turned down the max extension (subscription required) the franchise could offer. He will be paid significantly more than his $14.9 million player option next season, and the Lakers hope to be writing those checks.
The Lakers can sign him to a massive five-year contract worth $241 million. No other team can offer a fifth season, but that isn’t LA’s only edge. The Bulls and Nets are the only two teams projected to have significant cap space. Reaves likely commands $40 million per year, which would make a sign-and-trade difficult. If AR wants to compete for a championship, the purple and gold are the obvious option.
Reaves wants to remain with the Lakers, and the franchise desires to make him the long-term co-star next to Luka Doncic. It is all about working out the details of the contract. Fans should not panic when AR becomes a free agent. It is going to happen.
Austin Reaves will decline his player option first
The max extension Los Angeles could build off Reaves’ current deal would be a vast underpay. Both sides know that. This often happens when an undrafted player breaks out. The Lakers have to let the 6’5 wing get to free agency to make a fair market offer.
Teams will be interested. Reaves is an unrestricted free agent after he declines his player option. Expect him to get an offer from any team with space available.
The Lakers can exceed the salary cap to re-sign him, so do not be surprised if it is the last piece of business for LA. They want to upgrade their roster and get closer to title contention. Reaves’ small cap hold makes that easier. These are all the formalities and complexities of building a championship roster in the NBA.
This will be a franchise-altering offseason in Los Angeles. Austin Reaves isn’t the only free agent. The Lakers have to figure out the futures of LeBron James, Rui Hachimura, Luke Kennard, Marcus Smart, Deandre Ayton, Jaxson Hayes, and Maxi Kleber. They can’t bring everyone back and upgrade their roster. Pelinka has several difficult decisions to make, and it starts with Reaves and LeBron.
There should be zero panic when AR officially declines his player option. That is a formality to get paid what he deserves. His player option is below the non-taxpayer mid-level for next season. A star like Reaves gets paid more than double that.
The Lakers can’t just give Reaves a max extension. Every dollar matters in the second apron era. Saving a few million dollars on AR’s contract could allow Los Angeles to make a necessary upgrade. Rob Pelinka has to dig in and make a workable deal for both sides. Reaves wants to return, so it should be easy to figure it out.
The Los Angeles Lakers know Austin Reaves is declining his player option and wants to be paid handsomely in free agency. They are ready to sign a massive deal. How massive? Fans will have to stay tuned to find out. All signs point to AR staying in LA. They just need to decide on the details.
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