Austin Reaves will get his official audition as the second option, giving Rob Pelinka a sample for what life without LeBron James can look like for the Los Angeles Lakers. If Reaves delivers, the Lakers star can comfortably position himself for a massive payday with the franchise in the offseason.
Everyone should know by now that the talented offensive guard is expected to hit free agency in the summer of 2026. Reaves does have a player option for 2026-27. However, with the Lakers guard comfortably outperforming the $14.9 million figure for that season, there is little reason for that option to be picked up.