Austin Reaves has been single-handedly carrying the LA Lakers for the final week within the absence of the workforce’s star gamers, Luka Doncic and LeBron James. The Lakers’ undrafted gem unleashed himself up to now three video games, scoring a complete of 120 factors.
Within the absence of James and Doncic, Reaves has proved that he can grasp round with the most effective of the league. He had his profession’s first 51-point recreation in a 127-120 win over the Sacramento Kings on Sunday. Nonetheless, Reaves’ latest performances have considerably elevated the guard’s worth available in the market.
The Lakers now face a tricky determination subsequent 12 months. Based on Spotrac, AR15 has a participant possibility in his contract for the 2026-27 season, which he’ll most certainly decline. Reviews from June revealed that Reaves had rejected a $89.2 million extension supply from the Purple and Gold.
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Heading into the 2026-27 season, Reaves would develop into an unrestricted free agent if he declines his participant possibility. Many groups would come after him to accumulate his providers, and the Purple and Gold must match them to maintain their homegrown star.
“The assumption across the league is that $30 million per 12 months is absolutely the baseline for Reaves’ providers,” Tim Bontemps wrote in an article for ESPN on Friday. “One other govt theorized that with Reaves having the ability to get as a lot as 4 years and roughly $180 million from one other workforce in free company, {that a} five-year deal for extra whole {dollars} could possibly be compromise to get a deal completed to maintain Reaves in L.A.”
One other report from Lake Present Life revealed that the Lakers can supply Austin Reaves a five-year $240 million contract, which is able to preserve him in LA until the 2030-31 season. To stability the wage cap and make Reaves that form of a suggestion, the Purple and Gold must let LeBron James stroll away into free company subsequent summer time.
Austin Reaves has displayed sturdy need to stick with the Lakers
The LA Lakers gave Austin Reaves the break of a lifetime once they trusted him and gave him an oppurtunity after he went undrafted within the 2021 draft. Whereas there are doubts about Reaves’ future in LA, the rising had as soon as clearly displayed his love for town and the followers.
In June, AR15 sat down for an interview with Charles McCary of K8 Information. Throughout one phase, LA’s homegrown starboy expressed a powerful need to play out the remainder of his profession as a Laker.
“I wish to be in L.A. I wish to play my complete profession in L.A. I adore it there. I like the followers. Love the climate, love the golf. And clearly the Lakers are the most effective group in basketball,” He mentioned. “I do not take note of [trade rumors]. I preserve my head down, work, and I really feel like that is one of many causes I am the place I am at.”
Austin Reaves is averaging 34.2 factors, 5.6 rebounds and 10.0 assists per recreation on 52.5% capturing from the sector.
Edited by Avi Shravan
