The Luka Dončić era is officially set to begin for the Los Angeles Lakers in 2025-26, as it will be the ex-Dallas Mavericks superstar’s first full season with the storied franchise.
While the 26-year-old phenom is set to partner with 21-time All-Star and 4-time NBA champion LeBron James in the present, Los Angeles’ general manager Rob Pelinka is certainly already looking ahead to their post-James future.
If the Lakers wish to compete for titles year-in and year-out with Dončić at the helm, they’ll need to find complimentary long-term options to support the generational scorer and play-maker.
Interestingly enough, recent reports have indicated that Pelinka and the team’s rising star guard Austin Reaves could soon agree to a new deal to knight the 27-year-old as one of Dončić’s most impactful teammates for the foreseeable future.
“For the Lakers President of Basketball Operations (Pelinka), the decision to pay Reaves is growing easier by the day,” FanSided’s Svyatoslav Rovenchuk wrote Wednesday.
“The mentality shared by Reaves makes him sound like the ultimate team guy. The player who is willing to sacrifice for the greater good. The star who can do whatever is asked of him.”
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“Those types of championship contributors are invaluable.”
Though Reaves will likely decline his $14.9 million player option for the 2026-27 season and enter unrestricted free agency next summer, the Lakers can feel a semblance of security due to Reaves’ desire to claim titles in favor of individual achievements.
However, that doesn’t mean a massive market for Reaves will not develop in the summer of 2026 after he posted career-best averages of 20.2 points, 5.8 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 1.1 steals on a 55.6% effective field goal percentage in 2024-25.
If prospective suitors come knocking, Reaves could receive annual salary offers exceeding $35 million. Even still, his commitment to winning might lead him to return to Los Angeles as a trusted running-mate for Dončić.
Reaves wants to stack championships, and teaming up with the Slovenian prodigy for the long-haul might be his best chance at accomplishing that goal.
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