Pump the brakes on your Austin Reaves mock trades as the Los Angeles Lakers‘ third star isn’t going anywhere, ESPN’s Dave McMenamin reports.
Reaves declined the Lakers’ four-year, $89.2 million offer this week, but he or the Lakers have no intention to break up their partnership, according to McMenamin.
In the summer of 2026, he’s eligible to sign a four-year, $98 million extension, or he can opt out of the final year of his contract, become an unrestricted free agent and be eligible for 25% of whatever the salary cap is for 2026-27.”
The Lakers made the offer, sources said, understanding that Reaves would turn it down, but the franchise wanted to show its interest in him nonetheless and did not want to send the wrong signal by not offering it. Both sides, sources told ESPN, are motivated to find a deal next summer.
According to ESPN’s front office insider Bobby Marks, Reaves’ first-year starting salary in a max contract next offseason would be a whopping $42.5 million. That is a massive raise for the undrafted guard, who will only earn $13.9 million next season.
Lakers’ Best Trade Asset
GettyRui Hachimura of the Los Angeles Lakers drives past Walker Kessler of the Utah Jazz.
Reaves is the Lakers’ biggest trade chip outside of stars Luka Doncic and LeBron James, who are untouchables.
Multiple reports have linked the Lakers to have a standing offer for Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler and advanced trade conversations for Miami Heat forward Andrew Wiggins.
But McMenamin reported that Reaves’ representatives “were not contacted” about any of the teams involved.
Los Angeles Times reported in May that Reaves would only be traded if it returns one of the best centers in the NBA.
[Reaves] is not viewed as “untradeable” because almost no one in the NBA is untradeable. But if the Lakers are going to trade him for a center, they’re going to want one that is foundationally important — a build-around type and not a fill-in toward the obvious need they have at center (and will need to address in other ways).
If one of the best centers in the NBA were available, the conversations might be different, but at least now, during the first part of the offseason, that just isn’t the case.
Austin Reaves Wants to Finish Career in L.A.
Photo by Brian Fluharty/Getty ImagesLaker for Life is how Austin Reaves envisions his NBA career.
Reaves has consistently said that he wants to be a Laker for life like Kobe Bryant. He made that clear once again during his basketball camp in June.
“I love the fans. I Love the weather, love the golf. And obviously the Lakers is the best organization in basketball,” Reaves said. “I don’t pay attention to [the trade rumors]. I keep my head down, work, and I feel like that’s one of the reasons I’m where I’m at.”
Lakers president Rob Pelinka also made their position clear after their first-round exit in the playoffs.
“The level of confidence in Austin Reaves, LeBron James and Luka Doncic is at an all-time high still,” Pelinka told reporters during his end-of-season press conference. “I think those three guys have incredible promise playing together. And we will collectively do a better job to make sure they’re surrounded with the right pieces to have ultimate success.”
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