Bold contract decision could earn Austin Reaves up to $241 million

For Austin Reaves, a lot has changed in the last four years. From joining the Los Angeles Lakers as an undrafted free agent, Reaves is on the brink of signing one of the biggest contracts in team history.

Reaves was a first-team All-Big 12 selection during his senior year at Oklahoma but he went undrafted in 2021, going on to sign a two-way contract with the Lakers. He impressed in his first two seasons with the team and re-signed on a four-year, $54 million contract in July 2023.

Two years on he was offered another extension, this time worth $89.2 million, but he turned it down in July 2025. Since then he has been one of the NBA’s most productive guards, putting up a career-high 51 points in a statement win over the Sacramento Kings and following that up with 28 points and 16 assists against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Still only 27 years old, Reaves is a highly coveted player and could be a free agent next summer if he were to decline his player option for 2026/27. That situation has prompted the Lakers to return with a monster offer to retain his services.

ESPN reports that Reaves will be eligible to sign a five-year deal worth $241 million with the Lakers next summer. If he continues his current form it is not outrageous to think that Reaves could get close to that figure next summer, particularly if other teams were to push for his signature.

But for all the talk, Reaves is thought to be relaxed about his next contract and is not likely to push for the absolute maximum on the deal. Speaking recently, Reaves insisted that he is eager to stay with the Lakers.

“I try not to think about it. Honestly. I’ve said it a million times. I want to be in L.A. I love it,” Reaves said. “Even though the other extension was turned down, that doesn’t mean that I’m trying to go get a f***ing gigantic number that don’t make sense. I want to be here, I want to win. I want to do everything that can help this organization be better. So I don’t try to think about those things.”

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