The Los Angeles Lakers are heading into the 2025-2026 season with a three headed monster of Luka Doncic, Lebron James, and Austin Reaves, but there are two major questions that need to be answered within the next 6 months:
The first question is if Lebron James finish out his career in Los Angeles and retire at the end of this season, or will he play another season either in the Purple and Gold or in another uniform?
The second question is if the Lakers will give Reaves the massive extension that he’s due as he’s a free agent after this season. The Lebron question is almost inevitable, but the Reaves situation is much more complex, so let’s breakdown the possibilities for Reaves and the Lakers.
Austin Reaves to Potentially Not Resign with the Lakers
Mikal Bridges just got an extension this offseason from the New York Knicks that was worth four years for $150 million, which averages out to about $37.5 million per season. With Reaves being two years younger, he likely sees closer to $40 million per season, and to be quite frank, this may be too much of an investment for LA. If the Lakers view this commitment to Reaves not worthy, the only true option is either a trade by mid-season, or a sign-and-trade in the offseason. Let’s break down what it would take for a potential trade to even be considered.
Could the Lakers Trade Reaves?
If the Los Angeles Lakers are discussing a potential mid-season Reaves trade, it would have to come down to their current roster not looking like true contenders. There’s even the chance that it would take Lebron James wanting a trade to a team like the Golden State Warriors or Cleveland Cavaliers to start entertaining a Reaves trade. The reason this is the case is because the question becomes for life after Lebron, is Doncic and Reaves a good enough 1-2 punch to lead this team to a championship?
There’s a very real chance this isn’t the case, and if that’s so, the Lakers should look into trading for a mega-star to pair with Doncic. If Los Angeles can’t get their hands on a player like Bam Adebayo or Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Austin Reaves Contract
It was news this offseason in June where Reaves turned down a four year- $89 million contract extension in hopes of receiving a higher amount, and this was an extremely wise decision by Reaves. He is quietly going to force Los Angeles’s hand, and they need to be quick because life after Lebron James is fast approaching.
Austin Reaves Stats
In the 2024–25 regular season, Austin Reaves played in 73 games, averaging 34.9 minutes per game. He posted 20.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per contest. His shooting splits were 46.0 % from the field, 37.7 % from three, and 87.7 % from the free‑throw line. He also recorded 1.1 steals, 0.3 blocks, and turned the ball over 2.4 times per game.
In the 2025 playoffs (first round vs. Minnesota), Reaves appeared in 5 games. He averaged 16.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 3.6 assists across 39.2 minutes per game. His shooting dropped to 41.1 % overall, 31.9 % from three, and 85.7 % from the free‑throw line in the postseason.
Final Thoughts on this Proposal
All in all, it seems likely that the Lakers will give Reaves a 3-4 year extension, but the biggest question they need to figure out is what type of star can they add to the mix, and it would likely have to be a big-time frontcourt defender who could compliment Doncic & Reaves’s offensive skills while picking up for their defensive inefficiencies.
