Lakers' Championship Hopes Hinge on Austin Reaves' Long-Term Contract Amid NBA Rumors

Brian Windhorst, when discussing the lack of long-term contracts in the Lakers organization outside of Luka Doncic, reported on his The Hoop Collective podcast (29:30 mark) that, " I suspect Austin Reaves, strongly, is going to get re-signed but they're in this sort of nether region.

He also reported that there is a "0.0% chance" that Reaves signs a contract extension and will, instead, test free agency, where the Lakers are favorites to re-sign him.

As they should be.

In the same piece for ESPN, Tim Bontemps noted, "If Reaves waits, he could get an annual salary starting at more than $40 million next season, after making less than that much combined over the first three seasons of his current deal."

Again, as he should.

Reaves was a workhorse for the Lakers a season ago, playing 73 games and starting them all, in which he scored 20.2 points per game, shot 46 percent from the field and 37.7 percent from beyond the arc. He added 4.5 rebounds, 5.8 assists, and 1.1 steal to his statline.

It was his best season to date as he took to head coach JJ Redick's offense well. With questions about LeBron James' future on the court running rampant, it is time that Los Angeles looks to the future and recognizes that Doncic cannot do it all alone. He needs a complimentary piece and both he and Reaves showcased some intriguing on-court chemistry last season.

Re-signing Reaves when he inevitably opts for free agency, and locking him up for the long-term not only gives them another key piece to surround their superstar with, but also allows the team the option of trading him if they see fit and getting something in return for the 27 year old.

Whether it is his play on the court, a potential star pairing with Doncic, or his long-term trade value, he is far too important to the Lakers not to get him under a long-term contract sooner rather than later and ensure the organization and player's futures are tied to each other.