The Los Angeles Lakers once again faltered in the first round of the playoffs. Their championship hopes were crushed after being eliminated by the Minnesota Timberwolves. After the early exit, the future of young Lakers guard Austin Reaves has become a topic of conversation, largely due to his underwhelming performance in the series.
Reaves is reportedly eligible for a contract extension under the current CBA rules. The Lakers now have the option to offer him a four-year deal worth $89.2 million.
However, according to Ricardo Sandoval of Sports Illustrated, while the Lakers are open to re-signing Reaves, expectations point toward him declining the offer and opting out of his current deal after the upcoming season.
“The Lakers can offer Reaves a four-year, $89.2 million contract, which would be an upgrade from his current four-year, $53 million contract. L.A. would love for him to sign; however, the expectation is he will decline that and opt out of his current contract after next season,” Sandoval wrote.
REPORT: The Lakers hope Austin Reaves signs a 4-year, $89.2M extension, but he’s expected to decline and test free agency in 2026. With a $42.5M/year price tag and rough playoffs, L.A. may explore trades this summer—Reaves is far from untouchable, per @_RicardoSand of @SInow 🚨 pic.twitter.com/yKpikyo0Qe
— Lakers Better (@LakersBetter) May 9, 2025
From the Lakers’ perspective, offering Reaves a lucrative contract could be justified by his solid regular season performance. He averaged 20.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game.
However, his level of play dipped during the playoffs. Against the Timberwolves in the first-round matchup, the 26-year-old’s stats fell to 16.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game.
Click on ‘Follow Us’ and get notified of the most viral NBA stories via Google! Follow Us
Big Payday On The Table For Austin Reaves
Ricardo Sandoval also noted that if Austin Reaves accepts the extension, the Lakers would end up paying him as much as $42.5 million annually.
“If Reaves signs that extension, the Lakers will pay the guard up to $42.5 million a year,” Sandoval reported.
Should the Lakers move forward with the proposed contract, Reaves could be earning more in 2026 than stars like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Ja Morant, and Tyrese Maxey. What the future holds for both Reaves and the Lakers remains to be seen.
Also Read: Skip Bayless Accuses LeBron James Of “Excuse Planting” To Dodge Blame For Lakers’ Playoff Collapse
