Austin Reaves Could Be Back for Game 5, With Playoff Showing Key to His Next Deal
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The Los Angeles Lakers may regain guard Austin Reaves for Game 5 of their first-round series against the Houston Rockets, the New York Post reported Wednesday, April 29, 2026.
According to the report, team officials are optimistic that Reaves—who has missed time this postseason—will be cleared to play when the best-of-seven matchup resumes at Crypto.com Arena. The series is tied 2-2.
The timing is significant for the 27-year-old, who is in the final season of his current contract. Club and league insiders told the Post that Reaves’ performance over the remainder of the playoffs could heavily influence the size and structure of his next deal, whether with the Lakers or another team.
Reaves averaged 15.9 points, 4.6 assists and 4.3 rebounds during the regular season before being sidelined. The Lakers have relied on backcourt depth in his absence, starting veteran D’Angelo Russell alongside defensive specialist Gabe Vincent.
Head coach Darvin Ham is expected to decide on Reaves’ status following Wednesday’s shootaround. If cleared, he would return to a lineup led by LeBron James and Anthony Davis as Los Angeles tries to advance to the Western Conference semifinals for the second straight year.
Source: New York Post
