Austin Reaves is coming off a career year for the Lakers, but there are so many questions about his future.
The Lakers can offer Reaves an extension this summer. However, recent reports indicate that he will likely decline it, given that it would still be a significantly below-market value offer.
If he doesn’t sign a new deal, Reaves will play out the 2025-26 NBA season and can decline his player option the following year, making him an unrestricted free agent next summer.
The current dollar amount Reaves is reportedly seeking to receive in a new deal is $30 million per year.
We are far from the summer of 2026, but during his Reaves Brothers Basketball Camp, Austin discussed his future with Charles McCary of K8 News and made it clear that he wants to be a Laker for life.Austin on his future with the Lake show. “I think the sky’s the limit for us. We’re moving in the right direction. Obviously, adding Luka (Doncic), it gives you a hall of fame player such a young age that you can build around, and then obviously, still having Bron (Lebron James), the IQ, and still running around at forty years old, but I want to be in LA. I want to play my whole career in LA. I love it there.
I love the fans. Love the weather, love the golf. And obviously the Lakers is the best organization in basketball. (on trade rumors) I don’t pay attention to it. I keep my head down work, and I feel like that’s one of the reasons I’m where I’m at.”It’s got to be reassuring for Lakers fans to hear on the record that Reaves wants to remain a Laker. Los Angeles did the hard work of finding and nurturing his talent and while a big payday is upcoming, he’s proven to be worth it.
Reaves is coming off a season where he averaged 20.2 points, 4.5 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game. He played in 73 games and started in every single one of them.
With his prime years still in front of him and a full season working with Luka Dončić coming up, it’s reasonable to assume Reaves can be even better moving forward.
So, perhaps rumors of Reaves getting traded are more sizzle than steak. If he has any say in the matter, it appears he will remain a Laker far beyond his current contract.
