The Los Angeles Lakers’ season came to a disappointing close with a first-round playoff exit at the hands of the Minnesota Timberwolves. It capped off a turbulent year for the 17-time NBA champions—one marked by roster inconsistency, coaching speculation, and a few undeniable bright spots.
Among those positives was the emergence of Austin Reaves. Once an undrafted role player, Reaves evolved into a steady and often brilliant third option behind LeBron James and Anthony Davis. His combination of playmaking, scoring versatility, and competitiveness became essential to LA’s identity throughout the year.
Los Angeles Lakers’ Austin Reaves Unsettled Future
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However, Reaves’ future in Los Angeles is far from settled.
As ESPN’s Bobby Marks outlined in his offseason guide, this is the final summer the Lakers can offer Reaves a contract extension—and their offer may fall short of market value. Under the current collective bargaining agreement, the most the team can offer is a four-year, $89.2 million extension, beginning at $19.9 million in Year 1 (140% of the average player salary).
If Reaves turns it down and plays out his current deal, he’ll hit unrestricted free agency in 2026. At that point, he’d be eligible for a contract starting at 25% of the salary cap—potentially up to $42.5 million annually, a significant leap from the extension figure.
What does this mean for the Lakers? It puts pressure on GM Rob Pelinka to act decisively. They could work out a long-term deal in principle or prepare to re-sign him in free agency. But with future cap space considerations—particularly around a possible pursuit of Luka Dončić, who also becomes a free agent in 2026—the Lakers might be forced to make tough decisions.
There’s even been speculation that Reaves could be included in a trade package for another star, though voices like Stephen A. Smith have cautioned against such a move.
Whatever the outcome, Reaves’ breakout season has positioned him as both a valuable asset and a player whose next move could shape the Lakers’ future.