The offseason way forward for Austin Reaves is already drawing league-wide consideration, and one workforce is reportedly price monitoring if the Los Angeles Lakers face stress to retain their rising guard.
Based on ESPN’s Tim Bontemps on Thursday, the Brooklyn Nets are seen by league sources as “one potential bidder to look at this summer time” for Reaves, who holds a $14.9 million participant choice for the 2026-27 season. Bontemps reported that Brooklyn is anticipated to enter the offseason with sufficient wage cap area to pursue a max-level participant.
Reaves, who turns 28 on Could 29, is coming off the most effective season of his NBA profession and has positioned himself for a considerable payday. A number of scouts and executives advised ESPN they count on his subsequent deal to land “within the vary of 5 years, $200 million,” although under the projected five-year most of $239 million, per ESPN’s Bobby Marks.
“I’d be fairly shocked if the primary 12 months begins with a 3 as a substitute of a 4,” an Japanese Convention scout advised ESPN. “However the Lakers have to maintain him, and by all accounts he desires to be there, so I believe they make it work.”
That mixture of league curiosity and organizational stress locations the Lakers in a tough salary-cap dialog. Reaves has developed from an undrafted position participant into one of many franchise’s most dependable offensive creators, making him tougher to interchange than his unique contract worth steered.
In 2025-26, the guard averaged profession highs of 23.3 factors, 5.5 assists and 4.7 rebounds in 51 video games whereas capturing 49.0% from the sector and 87.1% from the free-throw line. He additionally posted 2.3 made 3-pointers per recreation and carried a bigger offensive position subsequent to Luka Doncic after accidents and roster modifications reshaped parts of the season.
Basketball logic strengthens the Lakers’ case for conserving him. Reaves gives secondary shot creation, pick-and-roll playmaking and environment friendly scoring with out demanding fixed on-ball management. Alongside Doncic, his skill to assault tilted defenses, draw fouls and area the ground turned more and more worthwhile.
The Lakers completed 53-29 and secured the Pacific Division title earlier than being swept by the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder within the Western Convention semifinals
Gamers who can rating greater than 20 factors per recreation effectively whereas additionally dealing with playmaking tasks are tough to seek out, significantly coming into their prime years.
For Brooklyn, the reported curiosity aligns with the franchise’s flexibility. The Nets completed 20-62 and enter the summer time with main cap area and a necessity for foundational expertise. Pursuing Reaves would signify an aggressive try and speed up a rebuild with a confirmed perimeter creator.
Nonetheless, Bontemps reported that league expectation continues to favor a Lakers decision. The query coming into the offseason is probably not whether or not Reaves will get paid, however how a lot Los Angeles is prepared to spend to maintain considered one of its most necessary items.
