Austin Reaves stays with the Lakers, agrees to $185 million deal: “A huge relief”
Austin Reaves is staying with the Los Angeles Lakers after signing a massive new contract worth $185 million. It is the richest deal ever signed by an undrafted player in NBA history
The Los Angeles Lakers have locked up one of the key players from their recent seasons. Austin Reaves has agreed to a new four-year, $185 million contract that will keep him with the franchise through the 2029-30 season, which includes a player option.
To make the new agreement possible, Reaves declined the $14.9 million player option in his previous contract. The new deal sets an NBA record as the largest contract ever awarded to an undrafted player.
Lakers and Reaves: a partnership set to continue
Negotiations between the Lakers and Reaves’ agents, Aaron Reilly and Reggie Berry of AMR Agency, continued over the past several days before reaching an agreement on Wednesday. The Lakers’ front office had identified a Reaves extension as one of its top priorities this offseason.
According to ESPN, shortly after the conclusion of the NBA Finals, representatives from ownership and the front office met with Reaves at the team’s practice facility to reaffirm their commitment to building the future together.
The agreement was finalized while Reaves was on a golf course. A source close to the player described his reaction after signing the deal:
It was a huge relief
NBA Insider
The same source added:
He wants to be a Laker for life, and nothing matters more to him than trying to win a championship for this city
NBA Insider
An investment in the present and the future
The signing will not affect the Lakers’ salary-cap flexibility during this offseason. The new contract will take effect after the team completes its other roster moves, with Reaves set to earn approximately $41.3 million in the first year of the deal.
Despite interest from several NBA teams – including the Detroit Pistons, who were reportedly prepared to offer him a maximum contract – the Lakers moved aggressively to secure the long-term future of one of their cornerstone players.
Lakers President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Rob Pelinka had already emphasized during the team’s end-of-season media sessions how important it was to retain Reaves:
He started his journey here as a Laker, and he’s made it very clear that he wants to continue that journey with us. We want his story to keep unfolding in purple and gold
Rob Pelinka
However, Austin Reaves’ $185 million extension does not eliminate all questions surrounding the Lakers’ roster construction. As Vince Goodwill pointed out:
You have to start building this team around Luka Doncic. … They need defense
Vince Goodwill
That comment highlights the Lakers’ biggest challenge moving forward. The current roster configuration provides plenty of offensive talent, but the team still faces questions about its defensive ceiling after committing a maximum-level deal to Reaves, making defensive balance a key priority going forward.