The Brooklyn Nets are preparing to make one of the most aggressive moves of the 2026 offseason, with a reported plan to pursue Austin Reaves using a four-year, $178.5 million contract offer should the Los Angeles Lakers guard reach free agency.
According to Dan Woike of The Athletic, Brooklyn is expected to emerge as a serious suitor for Reaves, while rival executives around the league believe the 28-year-old could command a salary exceeding $40 million annually. The report adds another layer to what is quickly becoming one of the NBA’s most closely watched contract situations.
Reaves is entering the final stage of a four-year, $53.8 million deal and holds a player option worth nearly $15 million for the upcoming season. His performance over the past year has significantly elevated his market value, placing him in position for a major payday.
The Lakers can offer the most lucrative package. Brad Turner reported on Spectrum SportsNet that Reaves could become eligible for a five-year, $241 million extension if he remains in Los Angeles. Rival teams such as Brooklyn would be limited to a four-year framework projected around $178 million.
The financial interest reflects Reaves’ production during the 2025-26 season. Before injuries interrupted his campaign, he averaged career highs of 23.3 points, 5.5 assists and 4.7 rebounds across 51 games. He also shot 49.0 percent from the field and 36.0 percent from three-point range while taking on a significantly expanded offensive role.
His emergence became especially important after Luka Doncic joined the Lakers. Reaves and Doncic formed the team’s primary backcourt pairing, handling much of the half-court creation responsibilities for a Los Angeles team that finished 53-29, won the Pacific Division and secured the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference.
Despite that regular-season success, the Lakers’ postseason ended abruptly. Los Angeles defeated Houston 4-2 in the first round before being swept 4-0 by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference semifinals. The disappointing finish has intensified scrutiny on the franchise’s long-term roster construction.
For Brooklyn, pursuing Reaves would represent a dramatic attempt to accelerate a rebuild. The Nets finished 20-62, the second-worst record in the Eastern Conference, and ended the season 40 games behind conference-leading Detroit. Adding a player coming off a 23-point-per-game season would immediately provide the franchise with a proven offensive centerpiece.
