TITLE: Austin Reaves Secures Four-Year, $185 Million Contract to Stay With Lakers
SLUG: austin-reaves-signs-four-year-185m-deal-with-lakers
CONTENT:
Los Angeles — Guard Austin Reaves has agreed to a four-year, $185 million maximum contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, preventing the 27-year-old from entering this summer’s free-agency market, according to multiple league sources.
Reaves told Dan Woike of The Athletic that during negotiations he briefly believed he might leave Los Angeles. “A couple of times, actually,” he said, explaining that neither he nor his representatives, Aaron Reilly and Reggie Jackson, were certain how talks would unfold.
The Arkansas native described the process as stressful, saying it was filled with “a lot of what-ifs” and that he prefers knowing exactly where he will play. Once the agreement was reached, Reaves said he felt an immediate “sigh of relief” and could finally focus on preparing for next season.
The deal is the largest in NBA history for an undrafted player, capping Reaves’ rise since joining the Lakers in 2021. His extension keeps him under contract alongside All-NBA guard Luka Doncic, giving the franchise two cornerstone players through the remainder of the decade.
League sources indicated the Detroit Pistons were positioned to pursue Reaves aggressively in free agency, a factor that may have pushed the Lakers to finalize a maximum offer before July 1.
With Reaves’ contract complete, Los Angeles can now turn its attention to rounding out the roster around its newly secured backcourt.
Source: Lakers Nation
