Jason Burgos
While the Los Angeles Lakers are likely to re-sign Austin Reaves to a new long-term deal this summer, a new rumor offers up their most serious threat on the open market.
There has been a lot of discussion in recent days on Jalen Brunson’s emergence from a second-round pick to a legitimate NBA superstar. However, Reaves has quite a good tale of his own after not even being picked at all in the 2021 NBA Draft.
Making it as an undrafted player in the league is a long shot. Sticking around long-term and actually emerging as a star in the NBA is like a winning lottery ticket for a franchise. In 2021, the Lakers landed a winning ticket that has delivered better returns, year after year, in Reaves.
In his fifth season in LA, the 27-year-old had his best year yet as he posted 23.2 points, 4.7 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 1.1 steals a night and should have earned All-Star honors in the West. That big year came at just the right time because he owns a player option he is expected to use to get back on the open market in pursuit of a big pay increase this summer.
Brooklyn Nets a real threat to offer Austin Reaves a max contract?
The Lakers want Reaves back, and the guard wants to stay in Los Angeles. ESPN’s Tim Bontemps confirmed as much in a new report about Reaves cashing in this offseason. However, in conversations with sources around the league, the NBA insider did point to one team LA should be very worried about.
“One potential bidder to watch this summer, sources said, is the Brooklyn Nets, who will enter the offseason with more than enough salary cap space to accommodate a max-type player.”
-Tim Bontemps
According to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, Reaves is likely to land a deal in the range of five years and $200 million. Which would be well below the five-year, $239 million max deal he is eligible for. While the Brooklyn Nets can’t offer as many years, if they are willing to offer a max contract, Reaves would be silly not to consider it.
The Nets have the sixth pick in next month’s draft, where they should get a talented youngster. They also have Michael Porter Jr., who had a career year in 2025-26. Porter Jr., Reaves, and that rookie star could be an intriguing trio in New York next season. The Nets seem less interested in bringing in older veterans in trades. Reaves would also better fit their current strategy of going younger without giving up draft assets.
In the end, it would still be very surprising if LA lost Reaves to the Nets.
