The 2025-26 NBA season will be massive for the Los Angeles Lakers. With Luka Doncic as their only top player under contract after next year, both LeBron James and Austin Reaves could be on the way out next summer.
In the immediate future, Reaves needs to compete at a high level next season to ensure the Lakers’ success and land a bigger contract. Brett Siegel, NBA insider for ClutchPoints, gave a firm challenge for Reaves next season, even after his recent rise.
“In Los Angeles, Reaves took a massive step forward last season and is entering a contract year,” Siegel wrote. “The Lakers will need Reaves to play at an All-Star level to compete for a championship.”
Reaves has a player option after next season on the four-year, $53 million contract he signed with the Lakers in 2023. If opting out, he would become a restricted free agent next summer. Siegel’s comments come after Reaves declined a four-year $89 million contract from the Lakers in hopes of landing a deal closer to $30 million annually.
Siegel’s Thoughts on Reaves, Lakers
Reaves averaged 20.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 5.8 assists in 73 games last season. While his numbers were all career-highs, he still missed out on the All-Star roster. He would likely need to see more improvement in nearly all of those statistics, along with helping the Lakers to a top record, to get the selection.
But still, with Doncic and James also on the court, Reaves being named an All-Star remains unlikely. Siegel’s point was likely that Reaves needs to perform at an even higher level than last year for Los Angeles to have success, regardless of it results in an All-Star selection in a loaded Western Conference.
He did mention that, regardless of an All-Star nod, Reaves should expect to be a top candidate for the NBA’s Most Improved Player Award. It would likely come with an increased offensive workload and production, which he’s had at some level over each of his four seasons.
On the Doncic front, Siegel did say that he expects the Slovenian to compete for the MVP award after signing a deal to stay in Los Angeles.
“Outside of these two (Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander), Luka Doncic is worth mentioning as well since the Lakers have essentially handed him the keys to the franchise over LeBron James,” Siegel wrote. “In 28 games with the Lakers last season, Doncic averaged 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 7.5 assists per game, which would put him firmly in the running for MVP over the course of an entire season.”
Finally, he said that both the Lakers and Clippers are teams ‘built to contend at the highest level possible‘ but are still behind the Oklahoma City Thunder and Denver Nuggets as top title-favorites.
Reaves Could Resign For The Long-Term
The Athletic previously reported that Reaves turned down a four-year $89 million extension from Los Angeles. Most recently, Lakers insider Jovan Buha said he is looking for a deal closer to $30 million a year, and hopes to stay in L.A. long-term.
“People around the league are penciling him in to make $30+ million this summer whether it’s with the Lakers or someone else.“ Buha said. “ (But) He wants to be a Laker for life…Austin wants to be in LA, and I expect that to be the thing. But I do expect the next contract to be like four years, $120-plus million next summer.”
Buha said the contracts of Tyler Herro, Scottie Barnes, and Immanuel Quickly are close to the deal Reaves is looking for. If James leaves and frees up cap space, the Lakers could offer him something closer to the contract Buha mentioned.
Speaking on his future at large, Reaves echoed that sentiment that he wants to stay in Los Angeles earlier in the summer,
“I want to be in L.A.,” Reaves said in an interview at the Reaves Brothers Basketball Camp. “If they want to trade me, then we’ll start something new somewhere else. But like I said, I want to be in L.A., I want to play my whole career in L.A. I love it there.”
As of now, Reaves remains a potential free agent next summer. He could opt in to his player option and earn $15 million in 2026-27, opt out and resign a new, likely larger deal, or test free agency.
While James’ Lakers future continues to be murky, general manager Rob Pelinka and the front office could shift their focus to keeping Reaves in town with Doncic for the long term.
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