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Austin Reaves' Agent Sends Strong Warning Amid Lakers' Trade Speculation

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Gautam Varier | Last updated May 25, 2025 11:09 AM ET

The 2024-25 NBA season proved to be the best of Austin Reaves' career. Reaves averaged 20.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 1.1 steals per game for the Lakers and staked his claim to be regarded as the best third option in the NBA.

Reaves was expected to carry on his good play in the postseason, but that didn't quite happen. The 26-year-old struggled as the Minnesota Timberwolves eliminated the Lakers in five games in the first round.

Reaves averaged 16.2 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game against the Timberwolves, and shot just 41.1% from the field and 31.9% from beyond the arc.

With the Lakers' season ending in disappointment and Reaves not having the best of times in the postseason, his name has popped up in trade rumors. Another potential reason to trade him, apart from his play, is his contract situation.

Reaves is eligible to sign a four-year, $89.2 million extension this offseason, but is not expected to agree to that. According to ESPN's Bobby Marks, if he waits and becomes an unrestricted free agent in 2026, he could get a deal starting at $42.5 million a year.

As good as he is, that's a lot of money.

So, the Lakers do have some incentive to trade Reaves this summer, but his agent, Aaron Reilly made it clear that would be a bad idea. Reilly took to X to declare that his client is going to put on a show in 2025-26.

Next year is going to be a show. People really have no idea what’s to come. Keep putting him in trade rumors for second string centers. @TheRealReggieB https://t.co/Q6ROei9DNi
— Aaron Reilly (@AMRAgency) May 24, 2025