Real Reason Lakers Are Trading Austin Reaves This Summer
Real Reason Lakers Are Trading Austin Reaves This Summer
Austin Reaves, the 26-year-old shooting guard for the Los Angeles Lakers, faces an interesting contract situation as the 2025-26 season approaches. Currently, Reaves is earning $12,976,362 for the 2024-25 season, with one more guaranteed year remaining on his contract at approximately $13.9 million for 2025-26.
Recent reports indicate that Reaves will likely decline his $14.9 million player option for the 2026-27 season. Instead, he’s expected to seek a significant pay increase, with salary demands reportedly in the $30 million per season range. This creates a challenging situation for the Lakers front office, as their extension capabilities are limited to approximately $19 million per season—substantially below Reaves’ apparent expectations.
Reaves has steadily developed into a valuable contributor for the Lakers, averaging impressive numbers last season:
| Stat Category | 2024-25 Season Average |
|---|---|
| Points | 20.2 per game |
| Rebounds | 4.5 per game |
| Assists | 5.8 per game |
These statistics are particularly notable considering Reaves has had to share ball-handling duties with established stars. His current contract reflects a total value of $53,827,872 over four years, with an annual average of $13,456,968—significantly below his reported future salary targets.
The gap between what Reaves seeks and what the Lakers can offer through an extension has sparked trade speculation. Some analysts believe trading Reaves could be beneficial for the Lakers, potentially addressing their frontcourt size limitations and creating a more balanced roster. The team might maximize his trade value by moving him this offseason or before the trade deadline in February 2026.
While some media voices consider a Reaves trade almost inevitable, others, particularly local Lakers reporters, remain skeptical about the team parting ways with one of their few homegrown talents from the LeBron James era. The decision will likely hinge on whether the Lakers prioritize roster balance or retaining a developing player who has become a fan favorite.
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.
