Just days before the start of the regular season, and the Los Angeles Lakers may have received some concerning news regarding Austin Reeves. According to the Ringers’ Zach Lowe, Reaves could conceivably command a contract worth $40 million a year once he hits free agency next summer.
That is if he has a strong contract year. The Lakers should hope that he has an All-Star caliber season. However, would Lakers fans really feel comfortable paying him $40 million annually over the next four years?
That is debatable considering that he is an offense-only player, albeit an increasingly talented one. He had a breakout 2024-25 season, posting 20.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 5.8 assists, and played even better once the team acquired Luka Doncic.
That hints that he could be a perfect long-term offensive fit alongside Doncic, but he is perhaps better served as a third option, not a second option. That is what makes the prospect of paying him $40 million annually so questionable.
The Lakers should trade Austin Reaves for a true star
After all, the salary cap for the 2026-2027 season is projected to be $165 million, with $40+ million being a huge chunk of that. On the other hand, that would only be 24.2% of the salary cap, which is the going rate for an above-average starter.
Still, if the Lakers can upgrade by trading Reaves, then they should. The most obvious option is Milwaukee Bucks superstarGiannis Antetokounmpo. He is more of a shoot for the stratosphere, pie in the sky, trade target.
Even so, the Lakers have a long history of landing superstars (see the Doncic trade), and Reaves having a strong start to the season would make that trade a bit more possible. Building a contending team around two guards who are terrific offensive players and poor defensive players is extremely hard to do. In fact, it may be more trouble than it is worth for the Lakers to do.
As a result, pairing a Doncic with a true co-star is a better option than paying Reaves big bucks next summer. Giannis would be the perfect option, though there are potentially others too.
All told, the Lakers should be wary of paying Reaves 40 million a season, even if he has a strong year. With rumors swirling that they could have an outside chance of landing a superstar such as Antetokounmpo, there are other options regarding his future.
