Austin Reaves is set to become a free agent after he opts out of his player option that would pay him $14 million for the upcoming season. Reaves could get a new deal worth up to $40 million per season either from the Lakers or on the open market. 

The Lakers have every intention of keeping Reaves, and can offer him a 5-year max deal worth roughly $239 million as they have his Bird Rights. Other teams can only offer a 4-year max offer worth up to $178.5 million. Reaves signed with the Lakers as an undrafted free agent in 2021, and has worked his way into one of their best players, averaging 23.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 5.5 assists this past season. 

According to Dan Woike of The Athletic, three Eastern Conference teams are expected to have interest in Reaves. 

“Multiple front-office sources around the league, granted anonymity to freely discuss an opposing player, expect Reaves to have interest from the Brooklyn Nets, with a four-year, $178.5 million contract expected to be offered. League sources said the Detroit Pistons and Atlanta Hawks are among a group of interested teams that can create space to make competitive offers. Other teams could also emerge," he wrote. 

The Nets can offer Reaves the biggest opportunity as far as playing time and role, as he'll be the number one option on a team that is still in a rebuilding phase. The Nets took three guards in the 2025 NBA Draft, but none of them emerged in their rookie season as a true top option. Reaves would have the opportunity to run his own team in Brooklyn, something the Lakers will never be able to afford him with Luka Doncic still under contract. 

The Hawks and Pistons are two competitive teams that lacked a scoring punch in the playoffs. Reaves would be able to compete in the East on both of those squads and be looked upon in the same manner as he is with Los Angeles in terms of carrying the offense. The Hawks can offer a bigger role than the Pistons, as they lack a true offensive creator. 

Yes.

By all accounts, Reaves has a good relationship with the Lakers and Doncic, and while they can offer him the most money, the opportunities he could get on any of the three aforementioned Eastern Conference teams are greater than what the Lakers can offer him. 

The Pistons were the top team in the East last season, and Reaves would've solved a lot of their offensive woes in the playoffs. The Hawks were the only team to beat the Knicks in the Eastern portion of the playoffs, and they did it twice. Those teams are in a similar position as the Lakers as far as championship contender status, and he would have a bigger role. 

The Nets aren't close to a playoff spot, but Jalen Brunson's success in New York after he left being a second option to Luka in Dallas could give Reaves an extra thought of potentially trying things on his own.