The future of superstar Austin Reaves appears to be settled. The 28-year-old will continue his career with the Los Angeles Lakers, reportedly agreeing to a four-year deal worth $185 million, according to The Athletic. This agreement positions him as the highest-paid undrafted player in NBA history.
Reaves had previously declined a player option of $14.9 million to become a free agent. For a period, his return to Los Angeles was not definitively secured, with the Brooklyn Nets also reported to have expressed interest.
From a performance standpoint, Reaves had recently shown significant improvement, establishing himself as the Lakers’ second option behind Luka Doncic and ahead of LeBron James. In the regular season, he averaged 23.3 points and 5.5 assists over 51 games.
However, his performance in the playoffs fell short of his regular-season standards. After missing the opening game against the Houston Rockets, his shooting percentages notably declined (40.7% from the field, 25.7% from three-point range). He was unable to recapture his form during the playoff exit against Oklahoma City.
With Reaves’ agreement in place, the focus for the Lakers now shifts to the future of LeBron James. The 41-year-old is also a free agent and is taking his time to make a decision. He was most recently earning approximately $52.6 million per year.
According to multiple reports, the Lakers are looking to reduce his salary, which has fueled further speculation. While remaining in Los Angeles was an option, a potential return to the Cleveland Cavaliers was also considered.
Despite these considerations, insiders Marc Stein and Jake Fischer believe a stay in Los Angeles remains the most probable outcome. James is deeply rooted in the city, and internal expectations do not strongly anticipate his departure. Simultaneously, the Golden State Warriors are still reportedly interested. NBA insider Brian Windhorst estimates the likelihood of James staying with the Lakers at around 51%, while not ruling out other scenarios.