Austin Reaves is due for a big payday, and it looks like the Lakers are willing to give him that
The Los Angeles Lakers could face significant competition to keep Austin Reaves in free agency, but league expectations continue to point toward the talented guard remaining in purple and gold.
According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Lakers are still widely expected to reach a new agreement with Reaves despite growing interest from teams around the league.
“The Lakers are widely expected to re-sign Reaves, whose fondness for Lakerland as well as his blossoming backcourt partnership alongside Luka Dončić are regarded as strong lures that suggest the sides will ultimately come to terms on a new pact,” Stein reported.
Reaves has developed into one of the franchise's most important players over the past several seasons, evolving from an undrafted prospect in 2021 into a reliable scorer, playmaker and leader.
The growing chemistry with Dončić was something you couldn't miss watching this Lakers team this past season.
And it looks as though the Lakers are heading toward building around that backcourt, which at one point was the highest-scoring duo in the NBA this season.
Reaves' Interested Teams
While optimism remains high in L.A., the market for Reaves is expected to be aggressive. According to Dan Woike of The Athletic, the Brooklyn Nets are expected to offer Reaves a four-year, $178.5 million contract if they can pursue him.
The Detroit Pistons and Atlanta Hawks are also among the teams capable of creating enough salary cap space to make competitive offers for the 28-year-old guard.
That looming competition could force the Lakers into a difficult financial decision, but retaining Reaves has long been viewed as one of the organization's top offseason priorities.
Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15) is congratulated by forward LeBron James (23) and guard Luka Doncic (77) after a three-point basket in the second quarter at Crypto.com Arena.Reaves' Chemistry Alongside the Don
He has become a fan favorite in L.A. since his game-winning Summer League debut in 2021 and has improved every year in the NBA.
Last season, Reaves continued to elevate his game while proving he could thrive alongside another ball-dominant superstar in Dončić.
Reaves' ability to score at all three levels, facilitate the offense and make timely plays has made him a crucial piece of the Lakers' long-term plans.
The Lakers also possess an advantage that extends beyond finances, with Rob Pelinka, GM and Head of Lakers Basketball Operations, saying that Reaves has expressed interest in staying with the team.
Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) and guard Austin Reaves (15) look on from the bench during the second half of game two of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs against the Houston Rockets at Crypto.com Arena. Reaves has repeatedly expressed his appreciation for the franchise and the city of L.A. throughout his career, and Stein's reporting suggests that mutual interest remains strong heading into free agency.
Although rival teams are preparing lucrative offers in hopes of prying him away, the expectation around the league is that Reaves and the Lakers will ultimately find common ground on a new contract.
If that prediction holds, L.A. would preserve one of its most valuable young building blocks while maintaining the promising partnership between Reaves and Dončić that could define the franchise's future.
