If there are any Los Angeles Lakers fans out there still concerned with Austin Reaves’ future direction and whether he’ll be a part of this team in the long-term, just take Lakers reporter Jovan Buha’s words as reassurance. As someone very connected and plugged into the team, Buha feels convinced Reaves is going to remain a Laker for quite some time.

Reaves is still under contract for next season, but he’ll have a player option for 2026-27. According to Buha, all signs are pointing toward Austin remaining in Los Angeles. “People around the league are penciling him in to make 30-plus million this summer, whether it’s with the Lakers or someone else. I expect it to be with the Lakers,” he said.

“I expect him to re-sign on a multi-year deal, and I think that’s the shrewd move from LA’s part. He wants to be a Laker, he wants to be a Laker for life. Remember, this is a guy who could have been drafted and decided to be undrafted so he could sign with the Lakers.”

For fans in Los Angeles, this report should elicit a sigh of relief. Reaves has proven to be very important to this group, and retaining him will go a long way toward ensuring the Luka Doncic era remains on track as we move forward.

Austin Reaves will likely remain with the Los Angeles Lakers

The payday is going to be interesting, and it’s very possible Reaves earns a large paycheck, as Buha points out. “I think he’s more of like a 30 to 35 million dollar a year player. If you look at some of the guys in that range, guys like Immanuel Quickley or Tyler Herro, I think Austin is easily in that class and better than actually a lot of the guys in that 30 to 32 million dollar range,” Buha said.

That’s certainly a lot of money for the Lakers to consider handing out, but as Buha notes, Reaves is worth it. You always worry about handicapping yourself financially in this day and age in the NBA, but making that kind of move would be a calculated risk for LA.

This isn’t someone you’re hoping fits into your current scheme, you already know the kind of fit he’s going to be alongside Doncic as a secondary ball-handler and scorer. Consistency matters, and Austin has become a crucial piece for this team.

It makes a lot of sense that Reaves wants to remain in Los Angeles, and if it’s totally true, that’s great news for the fanbase. The Lakers’ upside only increases with one of their best players signing back on once again.