Austin Reaves entered this season as one of the Lakers’ key pillars and a central part of JJ Redick’s system. Now he is also one of the biggest questions on the franchise’s long-term board, with his contract set to expire at the end of the year and a major decision looming on both sides.
The undrafted guard has already gone from fringe rotation piece to playoff starter to trusted late-game option alongside Luka Dončić and LeBron James. In a league where teams constantly search for secondary playmakers and reliable shooters, that rise puts Reaves in line for a major payday, and it puts the Lakers in the spotlight as they map out what comes next. Even in a sports landscape filled with social casino juggernauts like Slotomania and constant off-court noise, Reaves’ situation stands out as a true on-court storyline with real cap implications for Los Angeles.
Reaves’ current deal, signed in 2023, gave the Lakers excellent value through the middle of the decade. It also put a timer on his bargaining status. With his contract expiring after this season, he is positioned to test the market at a time when his role, numbers, and reputation around the league are at their strongest.
Austin Reaves’ Role Under JJ Redick
Under JJ Redick, Reaves has settled into a featured role that blends on-ball creation with off-ball versatility. Redick has leaned on him as a secondary ball-handler next to Dončić, using him in pick-and-roll actions, inverted screens, and dribble handoffs that let him read the floor and either attack or keep the offense humming.
Reaves’ ability to shoot off the catch and off the bounce keeps spacing intact when LeBron or Dončić operates in isolation or in the pick-and-roll. He can slide between both guard spots, handle pressure, initiate sets, and still work as a connector when he plays alongside multiple creators. That flexibility matters to a coach like Redick, who values movement, quick decisions, and shooting around his stars.
Defensively, Reaves competes, takes charges, and handles tough wing and guard assignments, even if he is not a lockdown stopper. He understands schemes, rotates on time, and rarely breaks coverages. For a team with championship ambitions, having a two-way guard who can stay on the floor deep into playoff series has real value.
What Reaves’ Next Contract Could Look Like
Because of his production and age, Reaves projects as one of the more attractive guards on the upcoming market. Executives around the league already view him as a starting-caliber perimeter player who can scale up in the playoffs, which positions him for offers that reflect that status.
If he reaches free agency, Reaves can command a significant raise over his current number, whether through cap space teams or sign-and-trade conversations. Given his trajectory, it would not be surprising to see multiple suitors willing to structure deals near or even at the upper range of what his current salary slot allows. Length will matter, too. A long-term pact would lock in security for Reaves while giving the Lakers cost certainty as they navigate future cap and tax lines.
The key question is how much Los Angeles is willing to pay to keep him in purple and gold. With LeBron still on the roster, Dončić in his prime, and Deandre Ayton anchoring the middle, the Lakers have little margin for error on role-player contracts. Overpaying on the margins can limit flexibility, but letting a proven fit walk for nothing can be even more costly.
Lakers’ Offseason Priorities And Reaves
Every indication to this point suggests that the Lakers view Reaves as a core piece rather than a trade chip. They have consistently resisted interest in him in trade talks, choosing to keep him alongside their stars instead of cashing him in for short-term help. That track record hints at a front office that understands both his on-court impact and his value relative to his contract.
As Reaves’ deal expires, Los Angeles faces several overlapping priorities. The franchise must keep enough shooting and playmaking around Dončić and LeBron, maintain defensive versatility, and preserve some cap maneuverability going into the late 2020s. Re-signing Reaves at a number that reflects his role but does not crush their flexibility will sit at or near the top of that list.
From a basketball standpoint, continuity works in Reaves’ favor. He has built chemistry with the team’s stars, understands Redick’s schemes, and thrives in the Los Angeles spotlight. For a group aiming to contend each year, bringing back a known quantity who has already performed in playoff environments is safer than chasing an unknown upgrade in free agency.
What The Lakers May Have Planned
Given the landscape, the most likely path is that the Lakers move aggressively to lock Reaves into a new long-term contract early in the offseason. That would remove the risk of losing him in unrestricted free agency and send a clear signal about whom they view as foundational alongside Dončić and LeBron.
Los Angeles can also structure a deal with some flexibility, such as front-loading or including incentives tied to games played or playoff success, to balance risk and reward. Keeping Reaves on a multi-year contract would allow Redick to continue building his offensive system around a stable backcourt core, while the front office works to upgrade depth and defense on the edges.
There remains a scenario in which Reaves tests the market, gauges his value, and then returns to the Lakers with a finalized figure both sides can live with. In that case, the organization must be prepared to match strong offers and decide how far it is willing to go in terms of years and dollars. Still, given their past stance and current direction, letting him walk for nothing appears unlikely.
Barring a surprise shift in philosophy or a massive external offer that changes the calculus, the Lakers’ plan seems straightforward. They want Austin Reaves in Los Angeles for the long haul, and they expect him to be a central part of the next iteration of this roster. As his contract expires, the question is not whether they value him, but how far they are willing to go to keep him a Laker.
