Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves secured the contract he targeted this summer, agreeing to a four-year maximum deal that keeps him in purple and gold through the 2029-30 season.
Reaves, 28, told reporters that his priority never wavered during free agency. “I wanted to be a Laker the whole time,” he said, adding that discussions with the front office intensified between the end of the season and July 1, the first day teams could sign free agents.
The former undrafted free agent faced the possibility of leaving to obtain a lucrative offer. Multiple clubs were reportedly preparing max sheets, creating what Reaves described as a “real threat” of losing him. The Lakers ultimately matched those terms to retain the guard they first signed in 2022.
Reaves is coming off a career-best campaign, averaging 23.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.5 assists. Injuries limited him to 61 games and kept him out of the 2026 All-Star Game, but he still posted personal highs in every major scoring category.
With the new contract finalized, Reaves said his focus shifts to elevating the Lakers alongside newly acquired star backcourt partner Luka Doncic. “The goal now is to keep getting better and help push this team back to championship contention,” he said.
The upcoming season will also mark the guard’s first without longtime teammate LeBron James, who departed in free agency. Reaves acknowledged he has “not fully processed” James’s exit but emphasized his commitment to leading the next era in Los Angeles.
Source: Lakers Nation
