With the futures of Luka Doncic and LeBron James currently settled, Lakers fans are waiting for Austin Reaves’ next move once his contract expires next summer. While the former undrafted guard’s value has become a hot topic as of late, one insider claims he’s worth what the recent projections are saying.
Report: Lakers Star’s Next Contract May Not Be Farfetched After All
Jovan Buha: Execs “Penciling In” Reaves as $30M Player
In a recent appearance on Spectrum Sportsnet, Lakers insider Jovan Buha said league executives expect Reaves to remain with the Lakers, even if it comes at a steep price.
“I think he’s more of a $30-35 million a year player. If you look at some of the guys in that range—guys like Immanuel Quickley or Tyler Herro—I think Austin is easily in that class and better, actually, than a lot of the guys in that $30-32 million range. Obviously, context and leverage are always factors here, so we’ll see what type of season he has, what type of playoff performance he has.”
“People around the league are penciling him in to make $30+ million this summer whether it’s with the Lakers or someone else. I expect it to be with the Lakers. I expect him to re-sign a multi-year deal, and I think that’s the shrewd move from LA’s part.”
Buha also reaffirmed Reaves’ commitment to the purple and gold, which Reaves addressed earlier this summer.
“He wants to be a Laker. He wants to be a Laker for life. Remember, this is a guy that could’ve been drafted and decided to be undrafted so he could sign with the Lakers. … He obviously re-signed after playing a couple years. Austin wants to be in LA, and I expect that to be the thing. He did turn down the extension, and I expect the next contract to be something like four-years, $120+ million next summer.”
Reaves’ Commitment is Laudable, But for $30M Per Year?
While Lakers fans would love for Reaves to stick around, the exact asking price is certainly a head scratcher. Immanuel Quickley and Tyler Herro recently earned similar deals, but they had the scoring and the accolades to back it up.
Last season, Quickley, a 2021 All-Rookie second team selection, signed a five-year, $175 million extension with the Toronto Raptors, a deal that holds a yearly salary of $32.5 million without incentives. He averaged 17.1 points and 5.8 assists on .420/.378/.867 splits despite a rough season in The North. Now, with Brandon Ingram making his season debut and Scottie Barnes’ future secure, there’s a chance the Raptors could make noise in the East, with Quickley playing a key role.
Herro, a prolific scorer in his own right, is coming off a career year that included his first All-Star nod. The 25-year-old put up 23.9 points, 5.2 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game while shooting .472/.375/.878 splits. Amid a turbulent season in South Beach, the Heat scraped together a couple of Play-in Tournament wins—before the top-seeded Cavs swept them in the first-round. As the team prepares for its first full season without Jimmy Butler, many can expect Herro to live up to the hype and go forward as Miami’s first option.
Both situations carry similarities and differences to Reaves, who is fresh off his own career year (20.2 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 5.8 APG) despite the Lakers’ first-round loss. Reaves is no doubt worth more than his current $13.9 million salary, but the exact amount, as Buha said, should depend on the coming season’s results.
2025-26 is Another “Prove-It” Year for Reaves
Though Reaves has shown he belongs in the league, the upcoming season will be his biggest test yet, proving he’s worthy of 1) being an elite third option alongside two future Hall of Famers, and 2) earning a hefty payday that justifies his presence once Doncic (and owner Mark Walter) take over.
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