Austin Reaves plans to stay with the Lakers... for 40 million per year!

The 2025/26 season will be the last for Austin Reaves with the Los Angeles Lakers under contract. The player will become a free agent in 2026 after rejecting the extension this summer. But his plan is not to leave the team, but to secure a significant amount in the upcoming market when he renews with the NBA franchise.

The shooting guard, who in June turned down an extension of 4 years and $89.2 million, is confident that the next big financial opportunity of his career will come in 2026. As several sources in the NBA Rumors agree, the leap will be substantial: his next contract could exceed $40 million annually.

The decision to decline that extension was not easy. It was the maximum the franchise could offer him at that time, although clearly below what Reaves will be able to negotiate when he becomes a unrestricted free agent in 2026 (if, as expected, he rejects his player option of $14.8 million). Two rival executives consulted by American media estimate that his next deal will be in the range of $35 to $40 million per season, figures reserved for established NBA stars.

The Emotional Factor: A Story of Loyalty

Beyond the numbers, Reaves has reiterated several times that his wish is to continue in Los Angeles. Represented by Aaron Reilly, the player wanted to make it clear that his refusal of the extension is not to be seen as a rift with the organization.

“I told Rob (Pelinka) and Jeanie (Buss): ‘You gave me an opportunity when no one else did. You've treated my family incredibly well, you've cared for us at all times. We are grateful’,” Reaves confessed. “We simply believed that the figure wasn't right. But that doesn't mean we want more than we deserve. I want to be a Laker long-term,” Reaves said.

Reaves's contractual situation comes at a crucial moment for the Los Angeles franchise, which is facing the 2025-26 season with a core led by Luka Doncic and LeBron James, in addition to reinforcements like Deandre Ayton, Marcus Smart, and Jake LaRavia.

The debate around his role has intensified, especially after statements from Robert Horry, who suggested that the Lakers might explore a “sign & trade” future if they view it as redundant to have Doncic and Reaves sharing so many playmaking duties.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Austin Reaves planea quedarse en los Lakers... ¡por 40 millones al año!