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What NBA Teams really think Austin Reaves will be worth in 2026 Free Agency

Originally posted on HITC | By Bergas Agung | Last updated Nov 2, 2025 9:27 AM ET

Austin Reaves has quickly become one of the early stories of the season.

With LeBron James and Luka Doncic out, he stepped up and showed he could be the go-to player for the Los Angeles Lakers.

Reaves put up 51 points in a win over the Sacramento Kings, then followed that with 41 points even though it came in a loss to Portland.

He also recently hit a game-winner against Minnesota, finishing that night with 28 points.

His strong start to the season is helping him make a case for a pay rise

His impressive play early on is backing up reports that he wants to be paid at least $30 million per year.

The 27-year-old guard has a player option coming up at the end of the season and hasn’t rushed into signing an extension, even though he’s only making $13.9 million this year.

Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images

When you look at the stats, it’s clear Reaves deserves a big raise. There are 59 players who already make over $30 million and many of them aren’t putting up numbers like his.

If those players justify such contracts, Reaves certainly merits similar compensation based on current performance.

Statistical profile suggests Reaves can serve as top offensive weapon

The Lakers have positioned Reaves as their third star behind LeBron and Doncic, but meeting his contract demands appears to be the right move.

While his numbers could dip when the high-usage stars return, it’s worth noting that Reaves has a significant age advantage over LeBron.

Through five games, Reaves is averaging 34.2 points, 10.0 assists, and 5.6 rebounds while shooting 38.5% from three-point range.

Those numbers put him in rare statistical territory: only players like James Harden, Nikola Jokic, and Russell Westbrook have averaged more than 30 points and 10 assists through their team’s first five games.

If Los Angeles declines to meet his value on the open market, several teams would likely pay upwards of $30 million per season for him to be a central piece of their offence.

This article first appeared on HITC and was syndicated with permission.

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