The Los Angeles Lakers have spent the past five seasons benefiting immeasurably from gambling on Austin Reaves and paying him ahead of schedule. He began his career as an undrafted free agent, signed a four-year, $53.8 million deal that's proved to be a bargain, and has inched closer to stardom on a team-frendly deal.
Early in 2025-26, however, Reaves is proving that the Lakers are now officially stuck in the middle of a dream and a nightmare with a new lucrative contract loudly looming.
Reaves has a $14,898,786 player option for the 2025-26 season, but most expect him to decline it in favor of entering unrestricted free agency next summer.