Austin Reaves is reportedly going to ask the Los Angeles Lakers for max money, and the front office has to decide whether the breakout guard is worth the price. The expectation around the league is that a deal gets done, likely in the five-year, $200 million range. That’s a massive number for a player who was undrafted four years ago.
Reaves, 28, is coming off the best season of his career. He averaged 23.3 points per game, 5.5 assists, and shot 36 percent from three while operating as the secondary creator next to Luka Doncic. He was the reason the Lakers offense functioned when Luka was off the floor, and his playmaking gave LA a legitimate three-creator look in clutch moments.
The argument for paying him is clear. Reaves is the kind of secondary star who only gets more valuable in the modern NBA. He can shoot. He can pass. He can finish at the rim. He’s beloved in the locker room. He’s the rare undrafted player who developed into a foundational piece, and the Lakers cannot afford to lose him for nothing in restricted free agency.
The argument against is the price. $40 million per year is starter money for max-tier creators. Reaves is excellent, but he’s not a No. 1 option. He’s never made an All-Star team. His defense remains a question mark, and at his height, he gets hunted in playoff matchups. Paying him max for the next five years assumes the trajectory keeps climbing.
The Lakers front office has been clear they want to keep him. Rob Pelinka built the current roster around the idea that Reaves and Doncic could function as a long-term backcourt. Letting him walk now means having to spend even more on the open market to replace what he provides, and the alternatives in free agency are not appealing.
Luka Doncic has reportedly been advocating internally for the Reaves extension. The two have built genuine chemistry over the past season, and Luka has been vocal about wanting LA to retain its core. When your franchise player is publicly campaigning for a teammate, the front office usually listens.
The cap math is brutal but workable. The Lakers have flexibility because of expiring contracts, but a five-year max deal pushes them deep into the second apron. That triggers the punitive luxury tax penalties and restricts the kinds of moves they can make to improve the roster. Pelinka has to balance keeping Reaves with maintaining the ability to upgrade around him and Luka.
What complicates things is the LeBron James question. James is expected to play one more season, and his cap number remains massive. If LeBron returns, the Lakers can’t realistically pay Reaves max and add meaningful pieces. If LeBron leaves, the math gets easier but the roster gets worse before it gets better.
The decision the Lakers make tells you everything about their plan for the next three years. Paying Reaves max is a commitment to the Luka era. Letting him walk would be a clear sign that the franchise wants to reshape the roster more dramatically. Pelinka has been deliberate about every move since the Luka trade. This one is no different.
The smart bet is that LA gets a deal done. The Lakers can’t afford to mess up the Luka era this early, and Reaves is too important to risk losing. Expect the contract to land in the four-to-five-year range at slightly under max numbers, with the structure providing some flexibility. The deal gets announced before training camp. Then the real work of competing in the West begins.
A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.
