Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images

Los Angeles Lakers Guard Austin Reaves Turns Down Four-Year Max Extension Offer

Reaves could be looking at a much more lucrative contract if he waits until the end of next season.

Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images

Point guard Austin Reaves declined a contract extension offer from the Los Angeles Lakers this week, The Athletic’s Dan Woike reported Thursday, June 26. The California franchise offered the No. 15 a new four-year, $89.2 million contract, but he opted to wait for a better offer in the 2026 offseason.

It’s worth noting that the terms of the contract extension offer are the maximum the Lakers could offer under the NBA ‘s labor agreement. The franchise was trying to secure the player’s contract, who will enter the third season of his four-year, $53.8 million contract, which he signed in July 2023.

Also Read: Lakers Move Up in the 2025 NBA Draft and Picks Former Kentucky Power Forward Adou Thiero

Despite having a $14.9 million player option to remain with the team in 2026-27, the expectation is that the player will not exercise the renewal as he remains motivated to obtain a financially superior contract.

Austin Reaves has declined a max contract extension offer from the Los Angeles Lakers that would have paid him $89.2 million over four seasons, per @DanWoikeSports

(h/t @RealGM ) pic.twitter.com/JHuA61zOz7
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) June 26, 2025

Austin Reaves wants to leave Lakers, in pursuit of better lucrative contract!

Above all, Woike assured that the refusal is not related to Reaves’ dissatisfaction with the Lakers. According to him, there are no ruptures in the relationship between the player and the franchise, with the limited amount that the organization could offer being the main reason for the negative conclusion of the talks.

It is worth remembering that the player himself had already commented on his desire to stay in LA in the long term. In a conversation with Charles McCary, from K8 News, this June, Reaves highlighted that he wants to play his entire career with the Californian team and sees a promising future alongside Luka Doncic and LeBron James .

Of course, Reaves could be looking at a much more lucrative contract if he waits until the end of next season. If he becomes a free agent, he would be eligible to sign a new deal that could be worth up to 25 percent of the Lakers’ salary cap or that of any other team that acquires him. ESPN’s Bobby Marks noted that the point guard’s first salary under his new deal could be as much as $42.5 million.

To remain in Los Angeles, however, the player will likely have to accept a slightly lower salary amount, especially with Luka Doncic also close to receiving an extension. Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus reported that the player’s starting salary on a new contract with the Lakers could be around $30 million.

Austin Reaves has shown improvement in 2024-25

Austin Reaves this season:

— 20.2 PPG
— 4.5 RPG
— 5.8 APG
— 46/38/88%

First undrafted player to average 20 PPG since VanVleet in 2022. pic.twitter.com/7jkDN5i02L
— StatMuse (@statmuse) June 26, 2025

Regardless, Austin Reaves put up the best numbers of his career in 2024-25. He averaged 20.2 points, 5.8 assists and 4.5 rebounds on 46% shooting from the field, cementing himself as the third offensive option – behind LeBron James and Luka Doncic.

With the trio in good form, the Lakers managed to close the regular season with the third best record in the Western Conference, with 50 wins and 32 losses, but ended up being eliminated by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the playoffs.

Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images

Austin Reaves

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A native of Jaipur, Rajasthan, journalist, and a complete soccer and basketball fan, he found the huge interest with basketball by watching videos of Allen Iverson and Tony Parker, but fell head over heels in love with the sport during the Warriors’ championship era (2015-2018). A sports game addict since his late PS1, he’s also passionate about the Eagles, Inter Miami and the Fever. He’s fortunate to have seen all his favorite teams win championships. He also has a special love for cricket and football (soccer), where he is a fan of Royal Challengers Bangalore and Barcelona.