Nets Poised to Extend Max Offer to Lakers Guard Austin Reaves
nets-poised-to-extend-max-offer-to-austin-reaves
Multiple front-office executives expect the Brooklyn Nets to present Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Austin Reaves with a full maximum contract when free agency opens this summer, according to The Athletic’s Dan Woike.
League sources told Woike that the Detroit Pistons and Atlanta Hawks are also preparing to create cap space and join the bidding for the 26-year-old guard. Additional suitors could surface as the June 30 start of free agency approaches.
Lakers’ exclusive window
Under NBA rules, the Lakers alone may negotiate with Reaves from the day after the NBA Finals end until free agency begins. Reaves carries a modest $20.9 million cap hold, and Los Angeles hopes to reach an agreement during that period while postponing the official signing until other offseason moves are finalized.
Potential contract figures
Based on the league’s latest salary-cap projections, a five-year max deal from the Lakers would total about $239.3 million. Any other team can offer up to four years and an estimated $177.4 million.
Reaves’ current contract and performance
Reaves is finishing a four-year, $53.8 million agreement signed in 2023. He is expected to decline his $14.9 million player option for next season before the June 29 deadline. Despite injury setbacks—including a Grade 2 left oblique strain in April—he averaged career highs of 23.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.5 assists across 51 games while logging 34.5 minutes per night. He shot 40.7 percent from the field and 25.7 percent from three during six postseason appearances after returning from the injury.
Preference to stay in Los Angeles
Woike reports that Reaves would like to remain with the Lakers, citing strong relationships with Luka Doncic, LeBron James and head coach JJ Redick, as well as comfort with the Los Angeles lifestyle. Nonetheless, financial considerations are expected to weigh heavily given that Reaves has been underpaid throughout his career.
From the Lakers’ perspective, retaining Reaves is a priority. Team officials view him as both a secondary playmaker beside Doncic and a reliable self-creator. An internal source downplayed defensive concerns in potential Reaves-Doncic lineups and highlighted Reaves’ emergence as a locker-room leader.
While the Lakers might hope for a more modest outcome if the market were softer, they recognize the widespread interest Reaves will command should he reach free agency.
Source: Hoops Rumors
