Matt Johnson
The Los Angeles Lakers face two critical offseason decisions this summer with LeBron James and Austin Reaves. While it’s uncertain exactly how much it will cost if the future Hall of Famer is retained, there is more insight on the rate to keep Reaves paired with Luka Doncic.
NBA executives who spoke to The Athletic‘s Sam Amick and Dan Wolke said Reaves could land a multi-year extension in the range of $40-plus million per season.
Related: Exec Details Potential Win-Win Contract for Lakers, LeBron
Reaves, age 27, is hitting NBA free agency at the perfect time. The 6-foot-5 guard is coming off a season where he set career-highs in scoring, free-throws made per game and rebounds.
- Austin Reaves stats (2025-26): 23.3 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 1.1 SPG, 2.3 3PM per game, 36% 3PT
He’s also hitting the open market in the right summer. LeBron will have a very limited number of suitors, and Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren is a restricted free agent. That makes Reaves the most coveted player available in NBA free agency this offseason.
Currently, the Brooklyn Nets and Chicago Bulls stand out as two guard-needy teams with the cap space to afford Reaves. There is also expected to be interest from the Utah Jazz.
In all likelihood, a bidding war will push the Lakers into paying more than $40 million per season to retain Reaves. A deal would mean Los Angeles is committing more than $90 million per season to the tandem of Reaves and Doncic for the foreseeable future.
