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may 13 2026Austin Reaves is poised to remain a cornerstone piece in the Los Angeles Lakers' project alongside Luka Doncic. According to ESPN's Tim MacMahon on The Hoop Collective podcast, the Lakers organization views the shooting guard as the Slovenian star's long-term partner, barring any unexpected developments.
The report comes with another important detail: according to The Athletic, Doncic has made it clear to the Lakers that he does not want to see Reaves included in potential trade negotiations, even in ambitious scenarios such as a hypothetical deal for Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Meanwhile, several franchises are closely monitoring the contract situation of the American wing. The Chicago Bulls, Brooklyn Nets, Utah Jazz, and Atlanta Hawks are among the teams interested in pursuing Reaves if he reaches free agency.
All signs point to the player declining his $14.8 million player option for the 2026-27 season and seeking a significantly larger contract on the market. In fact, several NBA executives believe he could approach annual salaries around $40 million thanks to his offensive production, age, and the scarcity of available stars in the upcoming free agency period.
Before injuries impacted the Lakers' season, the partnership formed by Doncic and Reaves had become one of the most productive in the entire NBA. The Slovenian led the league in scoring with 33.5 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 8.3 assists per game, while Reaves averaged 22.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 5.5 assists.
