The Los Angeles Lakers will have to pay Austin Reaves next summer when he reaches unrestricted free agency, and it may be less than expected if the rumors of him wanting a contract like Tyler Herro’s are true. That would put Reaves at a $30 million average annual value, which is significantly less than $40 million a season that Sam Vecenie recently predicted. LA would love to lock him in next to Luka Doncic at the lesser price.
Reaves won’t sign an extension until the 2026 offseason. The max the Lakers can offer is four years for $90 million right now because of his current salary. There is no way Reaves leaves $30-plus million on the table to extend immediately. He will wait to hit unrestricted free agency before cashing in.
The 6’5 wing is a fantastic development story. He went from an undrafted free agent to a future star. Reaves averaged 20 points per game in his first season under head coach JJ Redick, and the best is yet to come for the 27-year-old. If the Lakers can get him for $30 million per year, they could quickly turn their roster into a title contender.
Austin Reaves’ next contract could be an absolute steal
Herro signed a four-year $120 million contract with the Heat before blossoming into an All-Star. They are similar players. Both struggle on defense, but are strong scorers and floor spacers. Reaves is a better playmaker and heavier. It gives him a bit more flexibility and versatility.
The Lakers need a secondary ball-handler and creator next to Luka Doncic. Someone to take the pressure off their star and make connective plays. There is worry about Reaves signing a massive extension, but those people are underselling his fit next to Luka. Doncic made the NBA Finals playing next to Kyrie Irving and the conference finals with Jalen Brunson. He needs that number two creator to unlock everything.
Getting Reaves at $30 million means the Lakers will be paying their two best players nearly $80 million in the 2026-27 season. The positive is that their books are nearly clean beyond that. The Lakers must use Reaves’ low cap hold to build out their roster in the summer of 2026. This is their chance to immediately jump into title contention with a roster that complements Doncic and Reaves.
Going more than $30 million per year for Austin Reaves creates risk. Ten franchises are projected to have cap space next summer, and the 27-year-old will be an unrestricted free agent. He can sign with anyone. The Lakers must convince him to accept a reasonable number to compete for a championship next to number 77.
The Los Angeles Lakers are in a difficult position with Austin Reaves, so these rumors from Kurt Helin are a welcome sight. Believe them if you wish. It is way too soon to know exactly what Reaves will ask for next summer. Much of it will depend on his play this season. The Lakers would love to keep him, but only time will tell how this situation plays out.
Jeanie Buss is on the clock whether she knows it or not
Officially, Jeanie Buss remains the governor, the person who manages the team’s day-to-day operations. The Lakers have not enjoyed much stability in recent years. Coaching changes, roster decisions, and inconsistent success have all contributed to fan frustration.
The Lakers need a secondary ball-handler and creator next to Luka Doncic. Someone to take the pressure off their star and make connective plays. There is worry about Reaves signing a massive extension, but those people are underselling his fit next to Luka. Doncic made the NBA Finals playing next to Kyrie Irving and the conference finals with Jalen Brunson. He needs that number two creator to unlock everything.
This kind of turnover is not really unusual in the NBA. The Dallas Mavericks offer a good comparison.
When Mark Cuban sold controlling interest to the Adelson family last year, he assumed he would keep running the team. Yet new governor Patrick Dumont took charge before the season ended.
Dumont was now overseeing major decisions. This included trading Luka Doncic in a stunning swap with Lakers’ Anthony Davis, despite Cuban’s objections.
Walter’s case is somewhat unique because he has been a minority owner and worked closely with Buss, which could delay a leadership change. Continuity might be part of the plan initially.
Billion-dollar investments rarely come with the intention of handing over control to others for long. That is especially true when you have someone as competitive as Walter in charge.
Buss remains in charge for now, but the Celtics’ example suggests her time at the top may be limited. New ownership almost always brings change, especially when it involves such significant investments.
The Lakers have been clearly preparing for a new era. That new era will almost certainly come with fresh leadership whether fans are ready for it or not.
