Austin Reaves has turned down max contract extension offer from Lakers
Some people think the Los Angeles Lakers should or even need to trade emerging guard Austin Reaves this summer in order to become legitimate championship contenders next season. But it has seemed as if the Lakers would like to keep Reaves, and Reaves has said he wants to be a Laker for life.
However, the path to him being a Laker for life has gotten more complicated.
He has a player option for the 2026-27 season that he can turn down in order to become a free agent next offseason. Perhaps that is the path he is on, as he reportedly turned down a maximum contract extension offer from the team.
Via The Athletic:
"League sources told The Athletic that Reaves formally declined a max extension with the Lakers this week that would've paid him $89.2 million over the next four seasons," wrote Dan Woike. "He's about to start the third year of a four-year, $54 million contract he signed as a restricted free agent in 2023 — also the max number he could receive from the Lakers at the time.
"He can opt out of that deal and become an unrestricted free agent next summer, when he's expected to command significantly more than the most lucrative extension the Lakers were allowed to offer this summer."
Fortunately, Reaves declining that extension doesn't necessarily mean he's considering leaving the Purple and Gold.
"The decision, league sources said, wasn't a reflection of Reaves and the Lakers' relationship. Instead, it's almost a foregone conclusion considering the limitations placed on the amount the Lakers were allowed to offer this week.
"Reaves' upcoming potential free agency meant his name was floating in and out of rumors on the first day of the NBA Draft. The Lakers have never shown interest in trading Reaves and continue to hold him in high value."
Reaves, who went undrafted in 2021 out of the University of Oklahoma, averaged 20.2 points and 5.8 assists a game and arguably played at an All-Star level, which led people to say the Lakers now had a "Big Three" of Reaves, LeBron James and Luka Doncic.
The Lakers have steadfastly refused to include Reaves in any trade discussions over the last year or two.
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