New Lakers Rumors on Austin Reaves' Contract Demands amid LeBron Buzz, NBA Free Agency

Los Angeles Lakers forward Austin Reaves, who can decline his player option to become a free agent this offseason, is expected to want the max, per Brad Turner of the Los Angeles Times on Spectrum Sportsnet Live.

"He stands to make five years, $241 million if they offer him that deal. Or if he goes to a team like the Chicago Bulls, or a team like Brooklyn, he can get four years, $178 million. Those teams will kind of lurk around.

"But based on what I understand, what I keep hearing: Austin wants the max. Is he willing to give the Lakers a hometown deal? I'm not so sure about that. Maybe he does, but maybe his reps don't want that."

Reaves averaged 23.3 points on 49.0 percent shooting, 5.5 assists and 4.7 rebounds in 51 games last season. A strained left calf and a Grade 2 left oblique strain forced him to miss time.

Still, the 28-year-old showcased that he's worthy of a lucrative new deal. The question is whether the Lakers give him the max or he gets a huge contract elsewhere. One can guess that could very well happen given his impressive production.

Ultimately, the Lakers have a host of questions this summer outside Reaves. For starters, four-time NBA MVP and 23-year veteran LeBron James is an impending free agent. Center Deandre Ayton has a player option and could be out of town as well.

Ayton's departure in particular could be a tough loss, leading the Lakers on the search for another starting center. They could have some options, though, as Spectrum SportsNet relayed.

L.A. went 53-29 last year and made the second round of the playoffs before being swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Lakers, of note, were without the NBA's leading scorer, Luka Dončić, in the playoffs as he recovered from a Grade 2 hamstring strain.

They certainly have playoff potential with Dončić back in the mix next year, but the rest of the roster features a murkier picture right now.