Austin Reaves has improved his production in each season of his four-year NBA career. He averaged 20.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.3 blocks per game while shooting 46.0% from the field, 37.7% from three-point range and 87.7% from the free-throw line.
The Los Angeles Lakers guard set new career-highs in points, rebounds, assists and steals per game while tying his career-high in blocks per game. While there were questions about his fit alongside Luka Dončić in the backcourt, he continued to play well after the midseason blockbuster trade.
Despite his production, Reaves’ name has come up in trade rumors as he is expected to be in line for a massive pay increase next summer. Recent reports suggest that he is looking to double his pay on his next deal.
“Reaves is nearly sure to decline his $14.9 million player option for the 2026-27 season to explore unrestricted free agency next summer, seeking a salary in the $30 million starting range,” Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus wrote. “The most he can extend for ($19.5 million) is far short of that number.”
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Reaves’ production took a step back in the postseason as he averaged 16.2 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 3.6 apg, 0.2 spg and 0.6 bpg on 41.1/31.9/85.7 shooting splits. The Lakers have long maintained that they consider the former undrafted free agent as a key piece of their future.
There have, however, been questions about his long-term fit alongside Dončić, who is now the centerpiece of the roster. Additionally, Reaves appears to be Los Angeles’ most coveted trade piece. Pincus noted that — if a star big man is made available — it would not be surprised to see the Lakers attempt to build a package around their starting guard.
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