The Los Angeles Lakers plan to offer Austin Reaves a five-year, $240 million contract this offseason once unrestricted free agency begins, sources told Lakers Daily.
Reaves will decline his player option for next season to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason, sources said. The Lakers have “no fear” of losing the talented undrafted guard, who wants to spend his entire career with the Purple and Gold, sources said.
Reaves has been in the NBA since 2021. He has career averages of 15.6 points, 3.9 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game. The Arkansas native has close relationships with Luka Doncic and JJ Redick, sources said.
LeBron James is also close with Reaves, sources said, but it’s unknown if the future Hall of Famer will be on the Lakers next season. James becomes an unrestricted free agent this offseason for the first time since 2018. If the NBA’s all-time leader in points and field goals doesn’t retire, he’s expected to re-sign with Los Angeles or sign with the Cleveland Cavaliers, sources said.
For what it’s worth, multiple members of the Lakers are ready for the James era to end after this season, sources said.
Reaves is putting up 23.7 points, 4.8 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game this season while shooting 49.5 percent from the field, 37.5 percent from beyond the arc and 87.3 percent from the free-throw line. The 27-year-old has increased his points per game average every season with the Lakers.
Back in November, Reaves told Dave McMenamin of ESPN that he’s not focused on his upcoming free agency. The Wichita State and Oklahoma product reiterated his desire to retire with the Lakers despite declining an extension offer from the franchise last summer.
“I try not to think about it. Honestly. I’ve said it a million times. I want to be in L.A. I love it,” Reaves said. “Even though the other extension was turned down, that doesn’t mean that I’m trying to go get a f—ing gigantic number that don’t make sense. I want to be here, I want to win. I want to do everything that can help this organization be better. So I don’t try to think about those things.”
All signs point toward Reaves and the Lakers agreeing to a new contract this offseason. Once that is finalized, Los Angeles will aggressively pursue a trade for Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, sources said.
The Lakers can offer up to three first-round picks to the Bucks for Antetokounmpo this summer.
