The undrafted kid from Arkansas is about to hit the absolute jackpot.
Breaking news in the NBA world has revealed that Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves will be eligible for a monumental five-year, $241 million maximum contract extension this summer. This potential deal would cement his status not just as a key role player, but as a cornerstone of the Lakers’ future alongside superstars like Luka Dončić.
Let’s break down those astonishing numbers. A $241 million deal over five years translates to an average annual salary of nearly $48.2 million. When you break it down even further to a per-game basis for an 82-game regular season, that’s roughly $585,000 every single time he steps on the court.
This is a staggering rise for a player who started his career on a two-way contract after going undrafted in 2021.
Betting on Himself Paid Off Big Time
Reaves’ journey to this potential payday is a masterclass in betting on yourself. He is currently in the middle of a four-year, $54 million contract he signed in 2023. Last summer, the Lakers offered him an extension worth four years and $89.2 million—the maximum they could offer at the time. Reaves and his camp turned it down.
Why? They knew his value was only going to increase.
Reaves has a $14.9 million player option for the 2026-27 season, which he is widely expected to decline to become an unrestricted free agent this summer. This move makes him eligible for the full max extension based on a projected 2026-27 salary cap of $166 million.
His play on the court has more than justified the gamble. This season, Reaves has taken another leap, averaging over 25 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists per game, solidifying his place as an indispensable part of the Lakers’ core. His on-court chemistry with Luka Dončić has been a major bright spot, proving he can thrive next to ball-dominant superstars.
While other teams could offer a max deal projected at four years and $178.5 million, the Lakers have the advantage of offering that fifth year and a higher total value.
The Lakers’ Financial High-Wire Act
While securing Reaves is a priority, this massive contract presents a significant financial challenge for the Lakers’ front office.
The team is projected to have around $51 million in cap space this summer, but that figure includes the cap hold for Reaves. Signing him to a contract that starts at over $41 million per year would eat up the vast majority of that space.
This creates a complex puzzle for a franchise that always has its eyes on the next big star. The Lakers are reportedly navigating the future of LeBron James while also keeping an eye on a potential pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo in 2026 or 2027. A max deal for Reaves, combined with Dončić’s massive contract and a potential future supermax for a player like Giannis, would push the Lakers deep into the luxury tax and severely limit their roster-building flexibility under the new collective bargaining agreement.
Sources close to Reaves have indicated he “isn’t obsessed” with squeezing every last dollar out of negotiations and prioritizes winning in Los Angeles. However, his decision to turn down the previous extension shows he knows his worth.
This summer is shaping up to be a franchise-altering one for the purple and gold. The decision on Austin Reaves’ contract will be the first major domino to fall, setting the stage for the Lakers’ championship aspirations for years to come.
