After weeks of speculation, rising Lakers star Austin Reaves has finally revealed his plans amid swirling rumors and a lucrative contract landscape.
IMAGE: Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) and guard Austin Reaves (15) and forward Dorian Finney-Smith (17) celebrate during the fourth quarter against the Dallas Mavericks at the American Airlines Center. / Jerome Miron / Imagn Images
Austin Reaves’ rise from undrafted rookie to one of the NBA’s most promising young guards has been nothing short of remarkable – and now it’s about to get even more rewarding. After putting in the kind of consistent, impactful work that turned heads across the league last season, Reaves is reportedly on track for a major payday. According to league insiders, his next contract could push past the $30 million per year mark.
That projection, shared by ESPN’s Tim Bontemps through front office sources, underscores the level of belief circulating around Reaves right now. One executive put it plainly: “I think he will get $30 [million] plus,” citing the widespread expectation that teams – or more specifically, the Lakers – are ready to invest heavily in the 26-year-old guard.
And it looks like Los Angeles is keen to keep him around. Reaves is expected to re-sign with the Lakers, staying put in the purple and gold while stepping into an even bigger role alongside Luka Dončić. If that move holds, it would affirm Reaves as L.A.’s long-term backcourt piece – a modern-day running mate to a superstar, similar to the roles Jalen Brunson and Kyrie Irving once held next to Doncic in Dallas.
Reaves has the numbers to back this up. He turned in a career year this past season, starting in 73 games and averaging 20.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per contest.
Those aren’t just empty stats – he was a reliable second or third option depending on matchups, and gave the Lakers real shot creation and playmaking when they needed it. Come playoff time, he remained steady, putting up 16.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 3.6 assists in the postseason.
It was another strong sign that Reaves isn’t just regular-season good – he’s built for later rounds too.
This leap didn’t come overnight. Reaves joined the Lakers as an undrafted free agent back in 2021 after showing flashes during summer league.
From there, it was all grind: carving out minutes, carving out a reputation, and eventually carving out a four-year, $53.8 million deal with L.A. by July 2023. That contract looked like a steal almost immediately.
The Lakers knew it. So did the rest of the league.
That’s why eyebrows were raised when Reaves turned down a maximum extension offer reportedly worth $89.2 million over four years. It was a bold move – the kind that only makes sense if you know the market’s going to reward you handsomely down the line. Now, it looks like that bet is going to pay off.
Reaves’ blend of shot-making, basketball IQ, defensive competitiveness, and the ability to operate both as a lead guard or off the ball gives him positional and tactical versatility that’s incredibly valuable in today’s NBA. Pairing that next to someone like Dončić makes for one of the more intriguing backcourt duos on paper – two smart, fearless guards who can create for themselves and others, and who embrace the moment when the game’s on the line.
If this is the future for the Lakers – with Reaves locked in for the long haul and primed to grow alongside Doncic – then they’ve got more than just a role player. They’ve got a cornerstone. And you can be sure the rest of the NBA is taking notice.