According to The Athletic, league sources reveal that Luka Doncic has made it clear to the Lakers’ front office that he wants Austin Reaves to stay with the team. Beyond their strong personal bond, Doncic sees Reaves as a long-term core piece he can build around.
Multiple league insiders indicate that Doncic has even told team executives that he absolutely does not want Reaves included in any trade package for Giannis Antetokounmpo. He prefers to preserve the Doncic-Reaves core and then pursue other star players.
The Lakers are expected to make a push for Antetokounmpo this summer. Doncic maintains regular communication with new Lakers owner Mark Walter and is impressed with their current relationship. He has also emphasized that the team’s 15-2 run in March showed him championship potential. However, acquiring a superstar without trading Reaves would be a much tougher negotiation.
Currently, the Lakers only have three future first-round picks, one second-round pick, swap rights, and young players of limited trade value. Their assets are far from abundant.
Both the team and league sources believe the Lakers and Reaves will likely reach a reasonable extension agreement. However, if another franchise offers a max contract, Reaves could walk. Executives from other teams estimate that given Reaves’ performance, age, and the lack of comparable free agents this year, he could command an annual salary around $40 million.
Only the Bulls and Nets currently have enough cap space to offer a max deal. Teams like the Jazz and Hawks would need to clear cap space first. Sources say Reaves’ decision will also hinge on whether a team is in championship contention.
Over the past two seasons, Reaves averaged 21.5 points, 5.7 assists, and 4.6 rebounds per game. The only other players in the league to match those numbers over at least 100 games are Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, James Harden, Cade Cunningham, LaMelo Ball, Luka Doncic, and LeBron James.
The Lakers front office must weigh whether Reaves’ contract value fits the team’s long-term roster plan. High-ranking officials say overall roster balance will be the key factor in any extension decision.
Reaves is not the only free-agent dilemma for the Lakers. LeBron James’ decision is even more complex. At 41 years old and entering his 23rd NBA season, James remains a top-tier, winning player.
After missing the first 14 games due to a nerve issue, he missed only one set of back-to-back games for the rest of the season until his role change in March. He was again selected as an All-Star.
Questions about whether he would sacrifice touches and help younger stars contend have been answered by his play on the court.
If James wants to play another year, the biggest challenge is his salary. His streak of increasing annual salary over 23 seasons will likely end this summer. How much he takes a pay cut will depend in part on the Lakers’ roster overhaul.
Team and league sources say both James and the Lakers are interested in continuing together. Rob Pelinka and Jeanie Buss have publicly expressed their desire for James to finish his career with the Lakers. However, the Warriors and Cavaliers could try to lure the all-time leading scorer, especially if James feels the Lakers are rebuilding and not prioritizing him. In that case, he might choose to leave.
Insiders believe the Lakers could still find ways to significantly upgrade the roster even if they keep both James and Reaves this summer, but the path would be narrow.
