Matt Johnson
Los ANgeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves is poised to be one of the top players available in NBA free agency this summer. While Los Angeles is favored to re-sign him, suitors are already lining up for a bidding war.
Dan Woike and Sam Amick of The Athletic reported that the Utah Jazz and Atlanta Hawks are already two teams with “known interest” in signing Reaves this summer.
Related: Execs Predict Likely Cost of Austin Reaves Contract
- Austin Reaves stats (2025-26): 23.3 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 1.1 SPG, 2.3 3PM per game, 36% 3PT
Reaves, age 27, is still projected to remain in Los Angeles. The 6-foot-5 guard has expressed a desire to remain with the Lakers and there had been reports during the season that he could take a slight discount to remain with the team.
Los Angeles already knows the price tag it’s looking at for a long-term deal. The lack of high-end talent in NBA free agency, especially under the age of 30, gives Reaves leverage. With the rising NBA salary cap, $40-plus million per season is a given at this point.
Related: Exec Details Potential Win-Win Contract for Lakers, LeBron
The challenge for the Lakers will be how they build their roster with more than $90 million per season committed to Reaves and Luka Doncic. Los Angeles must also decide what to offer LeBron James, who will have a limited number of suitors that all have financial restrictions in what they can offer.
