The Los Angeles Lakers are faced with a massive decision this season, which could result in them losing two stars.
The Lakers re-signed Luka Doncic this summer to bring some much-needed stability to the franchise after a turbulent summer. Both Doncic and LeBron James’ futures were uncertain as James considered leaving LA in search of his fifth NBA title.
They have since made moves, such as signing DeAndre Ayton and Marcus Smart. With Doncic re-signed and James seemingly set to stay, the ship has been steadied. But the Lakers face another huge decision this season.
The Lakers’ third star, Austin Reeves, is entering the final year of his contract. They must decide whether to re-sign the talent. He averaged 20.2 points per game last year and had a 45-point game without James or Doncic last season.
Reeves was drafted by the Lakers in 2021, and has been an effective player alongside James for a number of seasons. LA must now decide whether he fits into their plans with Doncic.
NBA reporter Brian Windhorst, speaking on The Hoop Collective Podcast, explained, “Austin Reeves is sort of straddling the timelines here.
“He definitely was a player who thrived with the LeBron formatted team. When they reached the Conference Finals, Reeves played a significant role, and he continues to play a major role on the team.
“He’s aligned more in age with Luka, and he’s going into the final year of his contract. He’s got an opt-out after this year, which he’s almost certainly going to take.
“This is a question the Lakers have to answer: which timeline is Austin Reeves in? Because they have to make a decision here about whether to pay Austin Reeves.”
Reeves is a year older than Doncic, so this isn’t a question of age. The Lakers said they want to keep salary cap space open for the summer of 2027, so they need to decide whether keeping Reeves is a priority to them over their long-term goal.
Paying Reeves would put a sizeable dent in the Lakers’ salary cap space. He turned down a four-year, $89 million extension in June, as he is in search of a big payday.
NBA reporter Tim Bontemps, also on The Hoop Collective Podcast, said, “He’s right now on a deal that is below market for him.
“He’s making in the final year of his deal $13.9 million, and he’s got a player option for $14.8 million. He will not be taking that player option. He will be a free agent, and he will be looking for a very big payday.
“The belief is $30 million a year or more. I think I can see with pretty good clarity that he would think more than that. You can make an argument that he and LeBron will be the two best free agents on the market next summer.”
The 2025 offseason was devoid of a ground-breaking player move. 2026 could be different. James and Reeves could hit the market, as could Trae Young, who seeks a contract from the Atlanta Hawks. The Houston Rockets also haven’t made an offer to Kevin Durant.
Depending on what they decide this season, 2026 could see a total reset for the Lakers.
