As the Los Angeles Lakers prepare for life after LeBron James and aim to build a contender around Luka Doncic as the face of the franchise, questions remain about Austin Reaves’ long-term role with the team. The 27-year-old guard is set to hit the open market next summer as an NBA unrestricted free agent.
According to multiple NBA executives cited by ESPN, the 27-year-old guard is expected to command upwards of $30 million annually when he becomes an unrestricted free agent next offseason. However, the same report notes that negotiations will hinge on one key condition.
Reaves’ potential extension with the Lakers will depend on what happens next spring, as the 27-year-old’s performance fell well short of expectations during the first-round playoff series against the Timberwolves.
Reaves delivered the most productive regular season of his career last year, averaging 20.2 points and 5.8 assists while shooting 46% from the field and 37% from three across 73 games.
Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball during a game against the Milwaukee Bucks. (Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
But those numbers dipped in the playoffs, where he shot just 31.9% from deep on more than nine attempts per game and averaged nearly three turnovers per contest during the first-round series against the Timberwolves.
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That’s why a Western Conference assistant coach told ESPN the upcoming season will be pivotal for Reaves and his future in the league. “This is a big season for him,” the assistant coach said. “He’d better bring it in the playoffs, because he’s got to be good enough [to pair with Doncic]”.
The Lakers are looking to build the best possible roster around Doncic and believe Reaves can form a strong backcourt duo with the Slovenian star. However, that will ultimately depend on Reaves himself, who will need to prove it during what’s shaping up to be a critical NBA season for him.
