![\"Austin](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-1827312452-e1757371852682.jpg\")
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Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers smiles during pregame warmup against the Oklahoma City Thunder.<\/p>\n
On a team with LeBron James<\/a> and Luka Doncic<\/a>, Los Angeles Lakers<\/a> guard Austin Reaves<\/a> tends to slip through the cracks sometimes. But playing alongside the two superstars, Reaves has slowly turned into one of the most valuable wing players in the NBA.<\/p>\n But entering the last guaranteed season of the four-year, $54 million<\/a> deal he signed with the Lakers in 2023, Reaves has a player option for 2026-27, but could be set for free agency next summer. He turned down a four-year, $89.2 million extension<\/a> from the franchise months ago, and currently, is set to join James on the free agent market in 2026.<\/a><\/p>\n Speaking with Dan Woike of The Athletic<\/a>, Reaves discussed his mindset throughout this offseason, in which he\u2019s been in rumored trade packages with an unknown future on this Lakers team in flux.<\/p>\n \u201cStill to this day, I sit there and think about, relative to any life, that is a lot of money \u2014 a lot, a lot, a lot of money,\u201d Reaves said of the Lakers\u2019 offer. \u201cIt\u2019s way more money than if you would\u2019ve ever had. \u2026 If you told me when I was in 10th grade \u2026 it\u2019s way more money than I thought was ever possible.\u201d<\/p>\n Went to Austin Reaves\u2019 favorite place \u2013 his country club \u2013 to see first-hand that if you give him a chance, eventually he\u2019ll show you what he\u2019s worth. We spoke about turning down the Lakers\u2019 extension, the big payday looming and about what he wants most https:\/\/t.co\/39Flakklxb<\/a>\n<\/p>\n \u2014 Dan Woike (@DanWoikeSports) September 29, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Reaves averaged a career-high 20.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 5.8 assists in 73 games for the Lakers last season. After making roughly $13 million a year, the shooting guard has a player option<\/a> for about $15 million next year, but could turn it down to join a loaded list of unsigned players next summer.<\/p>\n Reaves Has High Value Around The NBA<\/p>\n According to Woike, an unnamed NBA source said Reaves could demand a contract worth up to $40 million annually. Though the Lakers were in flux last season by trading Anthony Davis<\/a> for Doncic, Reaves remained a steady contributor for the team.<\/p>\n His 20-point average while playing alongside Doncic and James is a good sign for other teams around the league hoping they can use him in an even bigger role than he has currently on this Los Angeles roster.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThe Athletic spoke with team and league sources who expect Reaves to earn more than $35 million a year on his next deal,\u201d Woike wrote. \u201cWith sources from two teams (neither being the Lakers) speculating that he could command more than $40 million a year.\u201d<\/p>\n Reaves had a higher scoring average than All-Stars Tyrese Haliburton<\/a>, Alperen Sengun<\/a>, Evan Mobley<\/a>, and Bam Adebayo<\/a> last season, and was one of only 13 players to average at least 20 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 5.5 assists. While he didn\u2019t get the All-Star nod, sources around the league<\/a> see the potential in the 27-year-old guard.\u00a0<\/p>\n Reaves sees his own potential as well. When asked about why he turned down the <\/a>Lakers\u2019 previous offer, the shooting guard gave a blunt response.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201c\u2018Y\u2019all gave me an opportunity\u2026And we appreciate y\u2019all of that,\u2019\u201d Reaves said. \u201cBut we didn\u2019t think that the number was the right number. And that\u2019s not saying that we\u2019re gonna go search for a number that\u2019s out of the world\u2026It\u2019s not like we\u2019re trying to just whack \u2019em over the head for more money than what I deserve. We just want to get what we feel like I\u2019ve put the work in to get.\u201d<\/p>\n Future With The Lakers<\/p>\n Despite his scoring prowess, Reaves\u2019 arrival in Los Angeles as an un-drafted free agent<\/a> has put a cap on the earnings<\/a> he can make at this point in his career.<\/p>\n Reaves\u2019 numbers have remained strong, and he continues to be a crucial piece in the Lakers\u2019 success. However, after being named in numerous trade rumors<\/a> and reports over the summer, Reaves responded directly to those who think he\u2019s a better fit as a role player.<\/p>\n \u201cYou can continue to have good years and you show people that you\u2019re capable, but they\u2019re always like, \u2018Oh, he\u2019s just a really good role player.\u2019 But then you space me into this role-player category, and I exceed that to a standard,\u201d Reaves said. \u201cAnd then the people that put me in this category and say that I never will be more than that, they expect me to be like a star. If I really cared, it\u2019s a lose-lose. I will never be able to do enough.\u201d<\/p>\n Reaves\u2019 presence on their roster has come with extreme value. His level of contributions on the offensive side of the ball at less than $14 million per year was a great help for the Lakers<\/a>, but at this point, his play is now demanding a bigger deal.<\/p>\n But even with a payday on his mind, Reaves said he would prefer to be in a winning situation like he is now over just having personal success. At the same time, he doesn\u2019t listen when seeing his name in rumors and speculation, and Reaves hopes it\u2019s the Lakers who offer him a bigger extension.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI really don\u2019t think about it,\u201d Reaves said. \u201cI think that if I continue to do what I\u2019ve been doing the last two or three years that it\u2019ll be fine.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\t\t\tEli Gregorski<\/a> is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy Sports. He has years of sports writing experience covering the NBA, NFL, college football and basketball, international soccer, and Formula One. He graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder, where he was the assistant sports editor for the award-winning CU Independent student publication. More about Eli Gregorski<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n \n\t\t\tMore Heavy on Lakers\n\t\t<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\tLoading more stories\n\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t