Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves is dealing with ankle discomfort but is expected to play Friday against the Minnesota Timberwolves, coach JJ Redick told reporters after Thursday’s practice.
“I know Austin and I expect him to play,” Redick said, per Lakers insider Jovan Buha.
Reaves was a modified participant in the Lakers’ practice after he shone in their season-opening 119-109 loss to the Golden State Warriors. The Lakers guard put up 26 points on 9-of-16 shooting, along with nine assists and five rebounds, showing his growing confidence and importance to the team’s offense.
Despite the ankle discomfort, Reaves has a knack for playing through pain.
In one of their preseason matches against the Warriors, Reaves survived an injury scare after he collided with Golden State guard Brandin Podziemski.
“[Reaves] got kneed in the posterior anterior calf — or somewhere around there,” Redick said at the time. “I think he just took a knee to his lower leg muscle. I think he’s fine.”
In the season opener, the Lakers, behind Luka Dončić and Reaves, were competitive despite missing LeBron James, still recovering from sciatica, until the third quarter.
Reaves Addresses Lakers’ Ongoing Third-Quarter Struggles
Even after his strong performance, Reaves expressed frustration with a familiar issue — the Lakers’ inability to maintain intensity after halftime.
“We’ve just been bad in the third quarter,” Reaves said after the loss. “Last couple of years for sure, but I think ever since I’ve been here, we’ve had a problem with the third quarter. So, we’ve got to figure out a way to come out with a little more energy.”
Redick addressed the same concern postgame, challenging his players to take responsibility. Reaves agreed.
“That’s on us players, not the coaches,” Reaves said. “They come in here and give us the answers to the test, and we just didn’t come out and execute. We have to be better.”
The Lakers will have a chance to respond Friday in a playoff rematch against the Timberwolves — the team that eliminated them in five games in last season’s first round.
Contract Year Adds High Stakes to Reaves’ Season
Reaves, 27, entered the season with more than just on-court motivation. He’s playing the final guaranteed year of his four-year, $54 million contract, which includes a $14.8 million player option for next season — one he is widely expected to decline.
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst recently reported there is “a 0.0% chance” Reaves signs an extension and a “99.9% chance” he opts out of his deal next summer.
“Reaves has one of the best value contracts in the NBA,” Windhorst wrote, explaining that current extension rules cap his raise at 140% of his existing salary, or roughly $89 million over four years — far below his expected market value.
The Lakers have full Bird rights on Reaves, meaning they can offer him any salary up to the max to retain him, but competition is looming.
Reaves Drawing Interest From Multiple Teams
According to The Athletic’s Dan Woike on The Zach Lowe Show podcast, Reaves is already drawing interest from rival teams preparing “lucrative offers” potentially exceeding $40 million per year.
According to ESPN front office insider Bobby Marks, there will be about 10 teams projected to have significant cap space next summer.
“If he has a good year, he could be a fringe All-Star candidate for sure,” Lowe said. “And honestly, the max is not out of the question.”
Woike added that with the expected cap spike, Reaves’ maximum salary offer from another team could start around $42 million per year.
“It’s him and Trae Young — those are the free agents everyone’s watching,” Woike said.
Rising Star With Higher Stakes Ahead
Reaves’ rise from undrafted rookie to potential nine-figure free agent has made him one of the NBA’s most intriguing stories entering the 2025 season. His mix of shooting, playmaking, and poise has made him a cornerstone of Redick’s new system — and a priority for the Lakers to keep long-term.
For now, Reaves’ focus remains on the floor. Despite the ankle discomfort, he’s expected to suit up Friday, continuing to prove his value on both ends.
If his early-season form continues, Reaves won’t just be one of the Lakers’ most important players — he could be one of the NBA’s most expensive free agents by next summer.
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