The offseason future of Austin Reaves is already drawing league-wide attention, and one team is reportedly worth monitoring if the Los Angeles Lakers face pressure to retain their rising guard.
According to ESPN’s Tim Bontemps on Thursday, the Brooklyn Nets are viewed by league sources as “one potential bidder to watch this summer” for Reaves, who holds a $14.9 million player option for the 2026-27 season. Bontemps reported that Brooklyn is expected to enter the offseason with enough salary cap space to pursue a max-level player.
Reaves, who turns 28 on May 29, is coming off the best season of his NBA career and has positioned himself for a substantial payday. Several scouts and executives told ESPN they expect his next deal to land “in the range of five years, $200 million,” though below the projected five-year maximum of $239 million, per ESPN’s Bobby Marks.
“I’d be pretty surprised if the first year starts with a 3 instead of a 4,” an Eastern Conference scout told ESPN. “But the Lakers need to keep him, and by all accounts he wants to be there, so I think they make it work.”
That combination of league interest and organizational pressure places the Lakers in a difficult salary-cap conversation. Reaves has evolved from an undrafted role player into one of the franchise’s most reliable offensive creators, making him harder to replace than his original contract value suggested.
In 2025-26, the guard averaged career highs of 23.3 points, 5.5 assists and 4.7 rebounds in 51 games while shooting 49.0% from the field and 87.1% from the free-throw line. He also posted 2.3 made 3-pointers per game and carried a larger offensive role next to Luka Doncic after injuries and roster changes reshaped portions of the season.
Basketball logic strengthens the Lakers’ case for keeping him. Reaves offers secondary shot creation, pick-and-roll playmaking and efficient scoring without demanding constant on-ball control. Alongside Doncic, his ability to attack tilted defenses, draw fouls and space the floor became increasingly valuable.
The Lakers finished 53-29 and secured the Pacific Division title before being swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference semifinals
Players who can score more than 20 points per game efficiently while also handling playmaking responsibilities are difficult to find, particularly entering their prime years.
For Brooklyn, the reported interest aligns with the franchise’s flexibility. The Nets finished 20-62 and enter the summer with major cap space and a need for foundational talent. Pursuing Reaves would represent an aggressive attempt to accelerate a rebuild with a proven perimeter creator.
Still, Bontemps reported that league expectation continues to favor a Lakers resolution. The question entering the offseason may not be whether Reaves gets paid, but how much Los Angeles is willing to spend to keep one of its most important pieces.
