The Los Angeles Lakers’ 2025-26 NBA season has become a pivotal one for a myriad of reasons.
5-time All-NBA First Team selection Luka Dončić, 21-time All-Star LeBron James and fringe All-Star Austin Reaves all wish to lead the storied franchise to its 18th championship, but the latter of the trio will be playing with some additional motivation.
The 27-year-old offensive initiator and skilled play-maker will be placed in positions to prove his worth to the organization throughout the season. With James currently sidelined due to a sciatica diagnosis, Reaves will aim to take advantage of his chance to net a potentially massive new contract in the summer of 2026 when he’s expected to become an unrestricted free agent.
“Reaves will earn just $13.9 million this season and is a lock to decline his $14.8 million player option for 2026-27, at which point he’ll become an unrestricted free agent,” Bleacher Report’s Grant Hughes wrote Thursday.
“It’s hard to imagine he’ll perform well enough to get the largest offer the Lakers can put on the table, which could be worth upwards of $240 million over five years.”
“However, as a clear second option behind Luka Dončić whenever LeBron James is out of the lineup, which could be pretty often during an age-41 season already affected by sciatica, Reaves will get every opportunity to demonstrate his worth.”
“A mere repeat of last season’s numbers should earn Reaves at least $30 million per season. Anything more than that, and he could push up toward $40 million annually.”
Coming off of a career-best 2024-25 campaign which saw the Lakers’ quickly-developing star average 20.2 points and 5.8 assists on an impressive 61.6% true shooting percentage, Reaves could use James’ temporary absence to boost his individual output.
If the crafty 6-foot-5 shooting guard can ascend to an All-Star, or even All-NBA level in 2025-26, a gargantuan payday could be in his future.
Reaves got off to a good start individually despite a 119-109 loss for the Lakers in their season-opener against the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night, as he contributed 26 points, nine assists and five rebounds in 36 minutes of burn.
While it remains highly unlikely that he’ll earn a contract in the $240 million range next offseason, there’s no question that a $40 million annual salary figure is well within reach for the Lakers’ rising star.
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