Lakers’ Austin Reaves Makes Contract Decision Ahead of Offseason

All things are going in favor of the Los Angeles Lakers heading into the final part of the 2025-26 regular season. However, there will be a lot of decisions to be made in free agency during the offseason.

One lingering topic is the $14.9 million player option Austin Reaves has for the 2026-27 season. ESPN’s Dave McMenamin reported that Reaves will decline the final season of his contract and become an unrestricted free agent this offseason.

There’s no need for Lakers fans to panic, though. Los Angeles remains interested in re-signing the 27-year-old out of Oklahoma. He will be eligible to sign a five-year, $241 million max contract.

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Austin Reaves’ Impact With the Lakers

After going undrafted in the 2021 NBA Draft, Austin Reaves signed a two-way contract with the Los Angeles Lakers. He had an option for getting elected at the No. 42 pick in the draft by the Detroit Pistons, but declined the franchise’s offer. The reason was that the Lakers had a two-way contract available. Something that wasn’t on the table in Detroit.

This decision turned out to be one of the best of the 2021 draft. Austin Reaves’ two-way deal would turn into a standard NBA contract after impressive outings in the Summer League and training camp that year.

Five years later, Reaves went from averaging 7.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game in 61 appearances in his rookie year to a career-high of 23.5 points and 4.7 rebounds this season.

Reaves and the Lakers agreed to a four-year, $53.82 million contract extension in the summer of 2023. This included a $14.9 million player option for 2026-27 that he’s expected to decline. Although Austin Reaves is expected to take on unrestricted free agency for the first time in his career, the rising star has shown no reason for the Lakers to move on.

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Lakers Expected Nearly $50 Million in Cap Space for Upcoming Offseason

ESPN’s Bobby Marks reported earlier this year that the Lakers’ top free agency priority will be re-signing Austin Reaves. However, this is far from the only decision Los Angeles will make this offseason.

Other players, including LeBron James, Rui Hachimura, Luke Kennard, Maxi Kleber, and Jaxson Hayes, are on expiring contracts. This will add up to nearly $50 million in cap space for the Lakers this summer.

Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart have player options for the 2026-27 season.

There will be plenty of free agents that the Lakers could pursue. Restricted free agents this summer include the Detroit Pistons’ Jalen Duren, the Utah Jazz’s Walker Kessler, and the Denver Nuggets‘ Peyton Watson.

The Washington Wizards’ Trae Young, the Cleveland Cavaliers’ James Harden, and the Golden State Warriors‘ Draymond Green have player options for the 2026-27 season. The list goes on, from Norman Powell to Andrew Wiggins; there will be plenty of players to keep track of.

Los Angeles and the rest of the league already know that the Lakers are building around Luka Doncic. The goal is to get Austin Reaves to cooperate and build around the two star players for seasons to come.

 

Toran Flores is a sports reporter located in Cheyenne, Wyoming. He’s covered news in the NFL, NBA, MLB, WNBA, and college sports. His work has been featured on platforms like FanSided, Athlon Sports, The Sporting News, Lakers All Day Everyday, and others.

In his free time, Toran enjoys spending time with family and friends, staying active, and traveling. More about Toran Flores