The reason why an expert believes Austin Reaves will stay with the Lakers

The future of Austin Reaves with Los Angeles Lakers remains surrounded by uncertainty. ESPN analyst Zach Lowe believes that the guard will renew his contract with the Los Angeles franchise, but he also doesn't rule out the possibility of him being traded in the near future.

Currently, Reaves has a $14.8 million option for the 2026-27 season, but Lowe thinks that this option will be voided as part of an extension that the Lakers would try to finalize in the upcoming preseason.

During his podcast The Zach Lowe Show, the journalist explained that speculations will not fade in the coming weeks: "People will throw fake Austin Reaves trades in the trade machine until February 5. I bet the Lakers keep him. I think this is my bet on Austin Reaves," Lowe stated.

"They keep him. They renew him in the summer. I'll go even further: I bet he takes slightly less than the max to stay in Los Angeles, although he could get the max elsewhere. That is just my prediction six months out on how this could play out."

But even with that hypothetical extension on the table, Lowe warns that the renewal does not shield the player from a future move if the franchise decides it needs another piece.

Is Reaves really part of the project's future?

The team's performance will be crucial in determining that. Lowe put it this way: "So, a decision is made for the Lakers. Reaves, plus Luka, plus what's here? Is that the path in the Luka era, or do we look to flip Reaves when he's on a higher salary and can bring more to us?"

The Lakers face this scenario with a record of 21-11 in the Western Conference. However, Reaves' calf injury —he had been off to the best start of his career— has left the team with a 5-5 record in the last ten games.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, El motivo por el que un experto cree que Austin Reaves se quedará en los Lakers