The Los Angeles Lakers have secured one of their most important offseason priorities. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Austin Reaves intends to sign a four-year, $185 million maximum contract to remain with the Lakers. The deal includes a player option for the 2029-30 season and comes after Reaves declined his $14.9 million player option to enter free agency.
The new contract represents a massive payday for the former undrafted guard and makes him the highest-paid undrafted player in NBA history.
Reaves and the Lakers reportedly spent the last several days negotiating the agreement alongside his representatives, Aaron Reilly and Reggie Berry of AMR Agency. In the end, both sides reached a deal that keeps one of the franchise’s most important players in Los Angeles throughout his prime years.
The structure of the contract reflects Reaves’ growing importance to the organization. He will earn $41.3 million in 2026-27, followed by $44.6 million in 2027-28, $47.9 million in 2028-29, and a player option worth $51.2 million for the 2029-30 season.
For the Lakers, this outcome always felt like the preferred scenario. Reaves has evolved from an overlooked undrafted prospect into a legitimate star. Last season was the best of his career as he averaged 22.3 points, 5.8 assists, and 4.9 rebounds while emerging as a perfect complement alongside Luka Doncic and LeBron James.
His ability to create offense, shoot from deep, handle secondary playmaking duties, and thrive both on and off the ball made him one of the most valuable guards scheduled to hit free agency.
That is precisely why there was so much concern surrounding his future. The Brooklyn Nets and Chicago Bulls entered the offseason with significant cap space and were widely viewed as potential threats to lure Reaves away with a massive offer sheet. Reports suggested Brooklyn could have pursued a contract worth nearly $180 million.
However, the landscape shifted dramatically after the Nets acquired Julius Randle and the Bulls took on Nic Claxton’s contract in a three-team trade. Both teams saw their projected cap space decline significantly, leaving the Lakers in a much stronger negotiating position.
Los Angeles ultimately capitalized on that opportunity. At 28 years old, Reaves has become a cornerstone piece of the franchise’s future. Alongside Doncic, he gives Los Angeles one of the NBA’s most productive backcourts and provides a foundation that extends beyond LeBron James’ remaining years.
The Lakers entered the offseason determined to keep Austin Reaves in purple and gold. Four years and $185 million later, they got their wish.
