Apr 30, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15) moves to the basket against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the first half in game five of first round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

Shannon Sharpe Drops Harsh Take on Austin Reaves Lakers Future

Originally posted on Los Angeles Lakers on SI
By Alex Kirschenbaum | Last updated May 31, 2025 11:00 AM ET

Los Angeles Lakers combo guard Austin Reaves has one of the best-value contracts in the league today.

The 6-foot-5 swingman, 27, will earn $13.9 million next season, and has a $14.9 million player option in the final year of the deal, 2026-27. He could probably triple that final salary in free agency if he continues on this trajectory.

That's quite the bargain for a guy who averaged 20.2 points on .460/.377/.877 shooting splits, 5.8 assists and 4.5 rebounds a night.

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But Reaves' fit alongside the Lakers' two All-Stars, 21-time All-NBA power forward LeBron James and five-time All-NBA First Team guard Luka Doncic, has come under fire of late.

All three players are above-average ball handlers and scorers, but all three are also sieves on defense. James can still summon his All-Defensive prime self for select possessions in the postseason, but he's generally just no longer that guy on a night-in, night-out basis, given that he is 40 years young.

During an appearance on his podcast "Nightcap" alongside cohost Chad Johnson, NFL legend Shannon Sharpe got real about the fit of Reaves, James and Doncic.

“The Lakers can only pay him [Reaves] so much. You’re gonna go somewhere and get a big payday anyway," Sharpe said. "You ain’t trying to stay with the Lakers when you get $200 million, and they can’t give you that… he has improved every single year; he’s a hell of a player."

Sharpe's praise came to an abrupt conclusion after that.

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"But those three guys are not gonna win anything," Sharpe said. "Now, I’m not saying you gotta package him, but they need a (traditional) big. He’s the only valuable piece that they have."

Sharpe knows what it takes to win it all. The Savannah State product, widely considered to have been one of the best tight ends in NFL history, was a five-time Pro Bowler, a five-time All-Pro, and a three-time Super Bowl champion across stints with the Denver Broncos and Baltimore Ravens from 1990-2003.

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This article first appeared on FanNation All Lakers and was syndicated with permission.

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