NBA Insider Provides Major Update on Austin Reaves' Future in LA

The Los Angeles Lakers might not have had the flashiest offseason, but they pulled off the biggest move of the summer when it mattered most.

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The Lakers locked up superstar guard Luka Doncic, signing him to a massive three-year, $165 million contract. 

Doncic will be a Laker for the foreseeable future and possibly for the rest of his NBA career. It was pivotal for the Lakers to lock up the 26-year-old superstar, but that may have been just the beginning of retaining some of their top young talent. 

Next summer, the Lakers will have a ton on their plate. Arguably, the two best free agents next summer will be members of the Lakers: LeBron James and Austin Reaves. 

James is likely to retire next summer. As for Reaves, his career is just getting started. The 27-year-old is coming off a career year, and he will look to take yet another leap this upcoming season. 

However, will Reaves be a Laker past the 2025-26 season? That's the million-dollar question. If you were to ask ESPN's Tim Bontemps, Reaves is expected to re-sign with the purple and gold in the summer of 2026. 

"The expectation, from both that executive and others, is that Reaves ultimately will return to Los Angeles, which would cement Reaves' role as the long-term running mate next to Doncic in L.A.'s backcourt -- the role once held by Brunson then Irving in Dallas."

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This summer, Reaves declined a contract extension from the Lakers. He is betting on himself this upcoming season after declining a four-year, $89.2 million extension. Instead, the former Oklahoma Sooner will play out the third year of his existing contract and is set to become a free agent in 2026. 

Reaves is fresh off the best season of his career, posting personal highs across the board. He put up 20.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.8 assists, and 1.1 steals per game, while shooting 46 percent from the field and 37.7 percent from deep over 73 games, logging 34.9 minutes a night.

While Reaves is lining himself up nicely for a hefty contract, his playoff performance has been a bit merky. His playoff performance these past playoffs was not pretty, and if that is any indication of his future performances, it may cost him some cash. 

"But the tenor of those negotiations -- and where Reaves fits in the long-term picture for the Lakers -- could hinge on what happens next spring. Reaves struggled in L.A.'s first-round playoff loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves in April, shooting 31.9% from 3-point range on more than nine attempts per game and also committing nearly three turnovers per outing." 

Reaves is set to enter his fifth season of his career. 

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For more news and notes on the Los Angeles Lakers, visit Los Angeles Lakers on SI.