Two insiders reveal possible value of Austin Reaves' next contract
· Yahoo Sports
With Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves suddenly sidelined by injuries, the Los Angeles Lakers' present and immediate future have suddenly become very murky. Their chances of making a deep playoff run seemed realistic before both stars got hurt, but now, those chances are slim to none, with both of them out for at least a few weeks.
The Lakers' outlook for next season is also murky. A number of their players can or will become free agents at the conclusion of this campaign, and that includes Reaves, who will almost certainly opt out of his contract this summer. Many expect him to remain with the team, but the question is how much money it will take to keep him on the roster.
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A few days ago, NBA insider Brett Siegel wrote in a ClutchPoints article that not only does Reaves not want to leave the Lakers, but that his next contract could be a hefty one.
"Despite teams being ready to throw a massive contract at Reaves in free agency, he holds no desire to leave the Lakers, sources told ClutchPoints," Siegel reported.
"A five-year contract north of $220 million is on the horizon for Reaves in Hollywood, as the Lakers' future is centered around him and Luka Doncic. With plenty of cap space entering the offseason, the Lakers will be very aggressive in their pursuit of adding length, athleticism, and two-way play at the forward positions."
If Reaves has or will rule out joining another team this summer, the Lakers must be careful not to negotiate against themselves, so to speak, especially since they need to retain several other players, including perhaps LeBron James, while also securing a couple of upgrades.
Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report expanded a bit on what Reaves' next contract could look like.
"As a veteran with five years of experience, he will be eligible to re-sign with the Lakers (once he opts out of his $14.9 million for 2026-27, a near lock) at a max salary of $41.3 million ($239.3 million over five years)," Pincus wrote. "That doesn't mean the team is obligated to go that high.
"The floor would probably be Jalen Johnson's $30 million annual salary with the Atlanta Hawks. The most competing teams can offer Reaves is four years, $177.4 million.
"In general, a franchise wants to pay its best players enough to keep them happy, but also needs to manage luxury taxes, aprons, and roster balance. Reaves' representation should and likely will ask for max, making the negotiating range $30 million-$41.3 million. A compromise will be based on the starting salary (perhaps $35 million), number of years (presumably 3-5), raises, and other details such as options, trade bonuses, payment advances, etc.
"For reference, a deal starting at $35 million with max raises and length is $203 million over five years. That potential should illustrate clearly why Reaves won't extend before testing that market. A contract starting at $30 million can still hit $174 million over five years, nearly on par with what other teams can pay over four years.
"Provided the Lakers and Reaves are motivated to get a deal done, they should be able to find common ground below a full max salary."
The undrafted guard is averaging 23.3 points on 49% field-goal shooting and 36% 3-point shooting, 4.7 rebounds and 5.5 assists a game. There seems to be some doubt that the Lakers can seriously contend for championships with Doncic and Reaves as their two main stars, especially once James leaves. But perhaps that combo could get the job done if surrounded by several very good two-way players, including one who would function as a legitimate third scoring threat and occasionally even a second option.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Two insiders reveal possible value of Austin Reaves' next contract