Lakers’ Austin Reaves Projected to Land Massive Contract Next Year

The Lakers' shooting guard could be in for a massive raise.

Mar 16, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15) reacts against the Phoenix Suns in the second half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

The Los Angeles Lakers are going to have to make some tough decisions in the next couple of years. They already know that LeBron James is going to retire in the next few years, so they have to build the team around Luka Doncic.

Getting players that fit around Doncic's style of play is going to be their top priority in future offseasons. They have already started that process this offseason.

LA would love to keep Austin Reaves as the shooting guard next to Doncic, but they might not be able to afford his next contract.

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The Los Angeles Lakers might lose Austin Reaves in free agency over massive raise

Reaves would stand to make more money if he tested the free agent market and did not sign with the Lakers. Other teams can offer him more money than the Lakers can.

If Reaves plays as well next year as he did this past year, he could get a contract that could be in the $140-150 million range over the course of a four-year deal.

That would mean that the Lakers wouldn't be able to afford to keep him unless they wanted to go deep into the luxury tax and flirt with the second apron.

The biggest issue with that is that they have no clear plan at the starting center spot. Signing Deandre Ayton for two years is a stop-gap, but there's a chance that it flames out.

If Ayton continues his pattern of poor production and moping, the Lakers would cut him and have no one to take his spot. They would be forced to pay for a center instead of paying Reaves.

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Reaves set career highs in almost every statistical category this past year. Staying in line with those stats next season, in a full season next to Doncic, could pay huge dividends for his bank account.

The Lakers have stated that they would like to keep Reaves if they can. If it becomes clear that they won't be able to afford him, they could trade him so that they don't lose him for nothing.

Reaves' deficiencies on defense are made up for by his stellar offensive arsenal. If the Lakers can keep him for years to come, that will be their top priority.

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