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16h ago

Lakers Weigh Austin Reaves’ Contract Future as They Pursue a Starting Center

The front office must balance Reaves’ expected free agency next summer with the steep asking price for an impact big man to shore up their championship window.

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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 30: Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after a made basket against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the fourth quarter in Game Five of the Western Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on April 30, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.
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Overview

  • Austin Reaves has publicly declared his desire to spend his entire career in Los Angeles and says he ignores trade chatter to stay focused.
  • Despite extension eligibility for four years and $89.2 million this summer, Reaves is widely expected to decline the offer and enter unrestricted free agency in 2026 seeking roughly $30 million per season.
  • General manager Rob Pelinka views LeBron James, Luka Dončić and Reaves as core pillars of the franchise and has no immediate plans to trade the guard.
  • With limited cap space and no first-round draft picks, the Lakers are prioritizing the addition of a starting center to address matchup issues revealed in the playoffs.
  • Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler remains Los Angeles’s top target, though Utah’s steep asking price may force the Lakers to explore alternative frontcourt options.