The sacrifice that Austin Reaves will make to continue with the Lakers
As pointed out by ESPN, the player is willing to give up a lot of money again in the upcoming 2026 Free Agency
The rise of Austin Reaves continues to be one of the most notable stories in the NBA. The Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard will be facing the possibility of signing a 5-year, $241 million extension in the 2026 Free Agency, but he assures that his priority is not solely about money, but about continuing to be a part of a franchise he fully identifies with.
"I try not to think about it. Honestly. I've said it a million times: I want to be in Los Angeles. I love it," Reaves stated in an interview with ESPN. "Even though the previous extension was rejected, it doesn't mean I'm trying to get a ridiculously huge figure that doesn't make sense."
On June 23, just a day after the NBA Finals, the Lakers offered Reaves the maximum extension allowed by the collective bargaining agreement. The meeting involved Governor Jeanie Buss, General Manager Rob Pelinka, and Coach JJ Redick, who expressed their desire to keep one of the most beloved players by the Los Angeles fans long-term.
According to Bobby Marks (ESPN), Reaves has two options: renew with the Lakers for five years and $241 million, or accept an offer from another team for four years and $178.5 million. The initial salary of $41.5 million would represent 25% of the salary cap for the 2026-27 season.
To put it into perspective, comparable players like Jordan Poole and Tyler Herro signed 2022 extensions equivalent to 20% of the salary cap, which today would amount to around $33 million annually.
Interest from Brooklyn
Despite Reaves' intentions, other teams are monitoring the situation. A Eastern Conference executive told ESPN that the Brooklyn Nets might try to sign him with an aggressive offer in the upcoming free agency.
"AR is a star," declared the executive. "If I were the Nets, I would offer him all the money possible. He has proven that when given the reins, he can perform at the highest level."
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, El sacrificio que hará Austin Reaves para seguir en los Lakers
