Fresh Lakers Rumors on Austin Reaves' Contract Decision amid Nets Buzz Ahead of 2026 NBA Free Agency

Austin Reaves' desire to remain with the Los Angeles Lakers could potentially help the team retain him on a deal for less than the max he could sign for this summer.

Per ESPN's Dave McMenamin, Reaves' "contract decision will not come down solely to a dollar figure" as the deadline for his player option approaches.

McMenamin cited the Brooklyn Nets as a team expected to have interest in Reaves, with the ability to offer him a four-year max contract even though money may not be his only driving factor:

"Still, sources familiar with Reaves' thinking told ESPN throughout the season that Reaves' contract decision will not come down solely to a dollar figure. There will be various factors, including Reaves' repeated stance that he would like to play his entire career with the Lakers."

Reaves holds a $14.9 million player option that must be decided on by June 29. McMenamin previously reported in March the expectation is Reaves will decline his option.

If Reaves declines his option, the Lakers have the ability to retain him on a five-year deal worth up to $241 million.

Other teams could offer Reaves a max deal worth up to $179 million over four years.

Even though McMenamin suggested that Reaves may be willing to cut the Lakers some kind of discount to stay in Los Angeles, Brad Turner of the Los Angeles Times reported on June 4 the 28-year-old is expected to want the max.

Regardless of the cost, there is a belief that Reaves will remain with the Lakers.

Reaves does have leverage over the Lakers if he wants to use it because they don't currently have any other obvious long-term building blocks around Luka Dončić.

LeBron James seems likely to return to Los Angeles next season, but he is operating on a year-to-year basis at this point at the age of 41.

The Nets can present a case to Reaves in which he is their No. 1 option and engine of the offense, but their roster looks very far away from being even a viable playoff contender.

There are some mechanisms the Nets have to potentially make a swift improvement, particularly by landing an impact rookie with the No. 6 pick in the 2026 NBA draft, but that would be needing a lot of things to go right on a team coming off a 20-62 record in 2025-26.

Reaves has improved his performance every season of his NBA career. The 28-year-old averaged a career-high 23.3 points on 49.0 percent shooting, 5.5 assists and 4.7 rebounds per game in 51 appearances during the 2025-26 campaign.