Austin Reaves is expected to sign a new contract with the Los Angeles Lakers next offseason, according to NBA insider Tim Bontemps of ESPN.
Reaves has a player option for the 2026-27 season. The undrafted guard will likely decline that player option and sign a new deal with the Lakers. He could make $30 million per year.
“I think he will get $30 [million] plus,” one executive told ESPN.
Reaves averaged 20.2 points, 4.5 rebounds and 5.8 assists in 73 games for the Lakers last season while shooting 46.0% from the field, 37.7% from beyond the arc and 87.7% from the free-throw line. He was the team’s third-leading scorer behind Luka Dončić and LeBron James.
Los Angeles lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the 2025 playoffs in five games. Reaves averaged 16.2 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists in the series while shooting 41.1% overall, 31.9% from 3 and 85.7% from the foul line. He played through a serious toe injury.
“This is a big season for him,” one Western Conference assistant coach told ESPN. “He’d better bring it in the playoffs, because he’s got to be good enough [to pair with Dončić].”
Reaves, 27, has career averages of 14.5 points, 3.8 rebounds and 4.3 assists with the Lakers, who have declined multiple trade offers for the Arkansas native. Reaves will start next season alongside Dončić, Rui Hachimura, LeBron and Deandre Ayton.
Los Angeles values Reaves, who recruited Jake LaRavia to the purple and gold this offseason. The Lakers probably wouldn’t have signed LaRavia unless Reaves recruited the forward, who played for the Memphis Grizzlies and Sacramento Kings last season.
Austin Reaves will make $13.9 million next season. He signed a four-year, $53.8 million contract with the Lakers in July 2023.