Executives predict potential cost of Austin Reeves contract extension for LA Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers face two important offseason decisions this summer with LeBron James and Austin Reaves. While it’s uncertain how much it would cost if the Hall of Famer is retained in the future, there is more information on the rate at which Reeves is paired with Luka Doncic.

NBA executives who spoke to The Athletic’s Sam Amick and Dan Wolke said Reaves could get a multi-year extension in the range of more than $40 million per season.

RELATED: Executive details potential win-win contract for Lakers, LeBron

Reaves, age 27, is hitting NBA free agency at exactly the right time. The 6-foot-5 guard is coming off a season where he set career highs in scoring, free-throws and rebounds per game.

  • Austin Reeves Stats (2025-26): 23.3 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 1.1 spg, 2.3 3pts per game, 36% 3pts

He’s also hitting the open market right this summer. LeBron will have a very limited number of suitors, and Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren is a restricted free agent. This makes Reaves the most coveted player available in NBA free agency this offseason.

Currently, the Brooklyn Nets and Chicago Bulls stand as the two guard-needy teams with the cap space to afford Reaves. There is also expected to be interest from the Utah Jazz.

In all likelihood, a bidding war would lead the Lakers to pay more than $40 million per season to retain Reaves. A deal would mean Los Angeles is committing more than $90 million per season to Reaves and Doncic together for the foreseeable future.

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Matt Johnson is the senior NFL and college football editor for Sportsknot. His work including the weekly NFL and college… More about Matt Johnson

#Executives #predict #potential #cost #Austin #Reeves #contract #extension #Lakers

Big update on Doncic and Reeves’ impact on LeBron re-signing with the Lakers this summer

A new report suggests that if it’s up to Luka Doncic and Austin Reeves, LeBron James will be back in Los Angeles next season.

On Monday, the Lakers saw a disappointing end to their 2025-26 campaign as the Oklahoma City Thunder completed a stunning four-game sweep of the NBA Playoffs semifinals. Following their 115–110 loss at home, speculation immediately began regarding James’ future.

As of now, the basketball icon is unsure whether he will play again next season. However, if he does so, Los Angeles remains the favorite to retain his services. Nevertheless, there have been multiple reports regarding a growing rift between management and the 22-time All-Star as he reportedly feels he has been “taken for granted” by the team’s front office.

However, the big question is his fit in this team. Doncic and Reaves will be the faces of the franchise for a long time, especially if the Lakers sign a new long-term contract this summer. His views on James’ return will certainly be important for the management. And if it matters much, the four-time MVP will be back in purple and gold next season.

Luka Doncic and Austin Reeves both want LeBron James to re-sign with the LA Lakers

lakers
isabella friz-imagen images

“A report that Los Angeles Lakers stars Luka Doncic and LeBron James are not getting along is not true,” sources reportedly told the Dallas Hoops Journal. “Doncic and James have a positive relationship, and Doncic wants James to rejoin the Lakers this summer.”

“Austin Reaves, who will decline his player option for next season, is expected to re-sign with the Lakers this summer,” the outlet said. “The undrafted guard also has a close relationship with James and wants James to continue playing for the Purple and Gold if he does not retire from the NBA.”

At least when it comes to the Lakers’ top two players moving forward, they both want the future Hall of Famer back on the team for at least one more season.

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After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

#Big #update #Doncic #Reeves #impact #LeBron #resigning #Lakers #summer

Is Austin Reeves playing tonight? lakers vs magic injury report

The Los Angeles Lakers face the Orlando Magic on Saturday night and Austin Reaves is once again at the center of the injury report. He is listed as questionable because of left hip soreness, making the Lakers guard the focus of attention as the team tries to extend its eight-game winning streak and solidify its playoff position.

The Lakers entered the matchup at 45–25, No. 3 in the Western Conference, and continued their strong push toward the postseason. Meanwhile, the Magic dropped to 38-31, No. 6 in the East, looking to snap a three-game losing streak and make the playoffs. Here’s everything we know from the injury report regarding Austin Reaves and his game status vs. the Magic.

Reeves has played a major role this season. In 44 games, he averaged 23.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 5.5 assists. He is shooting 49.4 percent from the field, 36.6 percent from three and 86.5 percent from the free-throw line.

Additionally, Reeves continues to produce offense at a high level. He handles playmaking duties and consistently generates scoring opportunities. His presence gives the Lakers balance and rhythm, especially with their stars.

austin reeves injury status vs magic

The Lakers’ injury report notes Reeves’ availability as particularly important. Maxi Kleber (back) is out, putting pressure on the rotation. Los Angeles needs Reaves’ scoring and playmaking to maintain their current pace.

On the other hand, Magic is struggling with several injuries. Anthony Black (abdomen) and Jonathan Isaac (knee) are out. Franz Wagner (ankle) is also sidelined, while Wendell Carter Jr. (rib) is questionable.

The Lakers are looking to continue moving forward. Trying to stop the magic slide. So when it comes to whether Austin Reeves is playing vs. the Magic tonight, the answer is uncertain. His status is questionable, and his availability will depend on pregame evaluation.


#Austin #Reeves #playing #tonight #lakers #magic #injury #report

Are LeBron James, Luka Doncic, Austin Reeves playing against the Heat tonight?

The Los Angeles Lakers visit the Miami Heat for the second consecutive night on Thursday, and LeBron James, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves are all listed as questionable on the injury report. James is dealing with a foot problem, while Doncic has hip pain and Reeves has an arm problem. Here’s everything we know about the injuries to LeBron James, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves and their playing status heading into the Lakers’ game against the Heat.

LeBron James, Luka Doncic, Austin Reeves status vs. Heat

Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15) is congratulated by Luka Doncic
© Kirby Lee-Imagen Images

Given that all three of LeBron James, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves are questionable on the Lakers’ injury report against the Heat, a concrete update won’t happen until it gets closer to the start of game time.

It wouldn’t be a surprise if all three players were ruled out against the Heat. At this time of the season, everyone is dealing with some kind of illness, and the Lakers have played it safe by resting key players during back-to-back stretches.

It’s only the third game of a six-game road trip, in which the Lakers will visit the Orlando Magic on Saturday, then make stops against the Detroit Pistons and Indiana Pacers before returning home to end the month.

So when the question comes up about whether LeBron James, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves are playing against the Heat tonight, the answer is probably no.

lakers injury report

-Luka Doncic questionable (right hip soreness).
-LeBron James questionable (arthritis in left foot)
-Maxi Glue Out (Lumbar Back Strain)
-Austin Reeves questionable (injured right arm)

heat injury report

-Bam Adebayo available (right calf tightness)
-Vladislav Goldin out (G League two-way)
-Jaime Jaquez Jr. out (left hip tightness)
-Nikola Jovic available (lower back injury management)
-Trevor Keels out (G League two-way)
-Pelle Larsson available (left elbow injury)
-Terry Rozier out (not with team)
-Kel’l ware available (right shoulder stretch)
-Andrew Wiggins out (sesamoiditis of left big toe).
-Jahmir Young out (G League two-way)


#LeBron #James #Luka #Doncic #Austin #Reeves #playing #Heat #tonight

David Edelman gives play-by-play breakdown of Austin Reeves’ ‘1-in-100’ heroics

On Saturday evening, the Denver Nuggets suffered their biggest loss of the season with an overtime road loss at the hands of the Los Angeles Lakers. It appeared that the Nuggets had the game wrapped up by the end of regulation, but Lakers guard Austin Reaves engineered a perfectly executed missed free throw, which he then rebounded and scored to tie the game.

After the game, Nuggets head coach David Edelman explained what happened in the game.

“It’s one of those things that’s 100 in the NBA,” Edelman said, according to Bennett Durando of the Denver Post, formerly of Twitter. “It happened. You give them credit. But there were a lot of things that led to it that we could have done differently, maybe better.”

Some criticized the Nuggets for not placing a fourth player in the lane to join in the rebounding action for Reaves’ second free throw, which went straight to an empty area of ​​the paint, where another Denver player could have been deployed had they so chosen.

A loss to Los Angeles would likely erase the good vibes from Denver’s recent solid win over the San Antonio Spurs, even without Victor Wembanyama.

It was a particularly brutal game for shooting guard Jamal Murray, who scored only five points and was shut out of the contest, a full 180 points from his usual dominance against the Lakers in recent years.

The Nuggets are currently 41-27, and are just a game and a half away from the Phoenix Suns to avoid the play-in tournament in the Western Conference.

The Nuggets now have a few days off before they next face off at home against the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday evening.


#David #Edelman #playbyplay #breakdown #Austin #Reeves #1in100 #heroics

What Austin Reeves said about yelling ‘I love you’

The Los Angeles Lakers won an overtime thriller against the Denver Nuggets, and it all started with what Austin Reaves was able to do at the end of regulation. Down two points, Reeves missed his free-throw to the left, and he was able to recover the ball. He ran down the baseline and hit a floater to tie the game and send the game into overtime.

Before going into overtime, Reeves was seen holding a basketball and saying, “I love you.”

The Lakers won the game when Luka Doncic used his clutch gene to sink a shot that gave them two points with .5 seconds remaining. The Nuggets didn’t have enough time to get a clean shot, and the rest was history.

After the game, Reeves was asked about talking the basketball at the end of regulation.

“I don’t really say much about the ball. It’s usually bad words. It’s usually when it’s not doing the right thing,” Reeves said, via ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.

It was the perfect scenario for Reeves, and it was almost as if he knew the ball was going to fall straight into his hands.

With the win, the Lakers now have the tiebreaker over the Nuggets, and that’s important as the Western Conference becomes competitive once again. The Lakers are still in the No. 3 seed in the West, and they may not have a chance to go much further than that, as they are seven games behind the San Antonio Spurs.

The Lakers are clicking at the right time, and they have two games coming up against the Houston Rockets that are important for standings purposes. If the big three of Reeves, Doncic and LeBron James can continue to play during the season, they should be able to keep their hands on the No. 3 seed.


#Austin #Reeves #yelling #love

LeBron James’ stance on the Luka Doncic-Austin Reeves LA takeover

LeBron James didn’t have to do much in his return from an elbow injury on Thursday, as Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves scored as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Chicago Bulls, 142-130, at Crypto.com Arena.

James had missed his last three games, all of which the Lakers won, with Doncic and Reaves out.

Against the Bulls, Doncic went on nuclear attack with a season-high 51 points on 17-of-31 shooting, including 9-of-14 from three-point distance. He also had 10 rebounds and nine assists.

Reeves was also special with 30 points on 13-of-20 shooting, five rebounds and seven assists.

According to Benjamin Royer of the OC Register, Lakers coach JJ Redick has discussed with James about allowing Doncic and Reaves to do their thing.

“I think, again, he wants to do everything he can to help his team win, and he understands the importance of making sure Luka and AR can perform at their best,” Redick said.

James finished with 18 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and two steals as the Purple and Gold won their fourth straight game and improved to 41–25.

The 41-year-old James has always been a team player, and he understands there are games when he has to outplay Doncic and Reeves, especially when the matchups and schemes dictate it.

The four-time MVP has often praised the talent of Doncic and Reeves, empowering them to take charge when needed. Redick also praised him, giving the backcourt duo extra confidence.

Reeves, in particular, missed several weeks with a calf injury, so it’s good to see him recapture his old form and give the Lakers more firepower.

They will face the Denver Nuggets on Saturday.


#LeBron #James #stance #Luka #DoncicAustin #Reeves #takeover

LeBron James perfectly embodies the Luka Doncic-Austin Reeves pairing

Luka Doncic and Austin Reeves may seem like kids when they joke with each other, but when it comes time to take the court, they mean business for the Los Angeles Lakers.

On Thursday, he arrived at Crypto.com Arena and led the Lakers to a 142-130 win over the Chicago Bulls. Doncic had a stellar performance with a season-high 51 points on 17-of-31 shooting. He also had a near triple-double with 10 rebounds and nine assists. Meanwhile, Reeves scored 30 points on 13-of-20 shooting, five rebounds and seven assists.

It was another efficient performance for the backcourt duo, as the Lakers recorded their fourth consecutive win.

The talent of Doncic and Reeves didn’t diminish LeBron James, who had two adjectives for his teammates, as reported by Benjamin Royer of the OC Register.

“LeBron James calls Luka Doncic and Austin Reeves ‘magical and dynamic,'” Royer wrote on X.

It’s unclear if James chose them specifically to contrast Doncic and Reeves’ styles, but yes, “magical” suits the former, while “dynamic” is perfect for the latter.

Since entering the NBA in 2018, it always felt like Doncic had superpowers. Reeves, meanwhile, has shown vast improvement in his all-around game over the past few years.

For his part, James returned from a three-game absence due to an elbow injury against the Denver Nuggets. He finished with 18 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and two steals.

The Lakers won three games without him, with Doncic and Reeves leading the team together.

They improved to 41-25 and have a rematch with the Nuggets on Saturday.


#LeBron #James #perfectly #embodies #Luka #DoncicAustin #Reeves #pairing

Luka Doncic couldn’t hide his dislike for reporter’s question about LeBron James, Austin Reeves

The Lakers were able to pull off a thrilling win over the Pelicans as they set their sights on the Nuggets on Thursday to snap a three-game winning streak. After the game, Doncic got a question he’s answered many times before.

Since the All-Star break, there has been talk about whether the Lakers’ “Big Three” LeBron James, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves will be fit. There has been increased conversation in the media, especially when statistics show that lineups with LeBron James and only Luka Doncic and Austin Reeves have a better Net Rating. Likewise, lineups with just LeBron on the floor and Doncic and Reeves on the bench have a better Nets rating.

As there is strong debate over whether the three Lakers stars are actually a fit, Luka signaled his disdain for the conversation in a post-game interview following the win over the Pelicans.

“Are you guys going to ask me this question every night?”

Although reluctant to continue speaking further on the topic, he responded.

“I think that’s what everybody sees. We’ve obviously won three in a row. We’ve been playing together since the All-Star break… Obviously we’re going to have chemistry every day, every game.”

The Lakers are currently 37-24, holding the sixth seed in the Western Conference. They are two games ahead of the seventh-seeded Suns in the play-in tournament. Their game against the Denver Nuggets on Thursday is important, as Denver is just one game ahead of Los Angeles in wins.

After a season in which all three stars missed significant time, the Lakers finally feel like they have a relatively healthy roster as they head into a very important stretch of games that includes matchups against playoff teams like the Nuggets, Knicks, Timberwolves, and Rockets.


#Luka #Doncic #couldnt #hide #dislike #reporters #question #LeBron #James #Austin #Reeves

Austin Reeves claps back at Luka Doncic’s ‘No Presents’ diss

Luka Doncic may be the face of the Los Angeles Lakers, but that doesn’t exempt him from some classic locker room danger. After the Lakers defeated the Golden State Warriors 129-101 on Saturday night, the birthday boy decided to express some complaints about his teammates’ gift-giving habits, or lack thereof.

During his on-court interview after his impressive 26-point performance, Doncic, who turns 27 on Friday, jokingly called out the team. “Nobody has given me a gift yet, it’s crazy,” the superstar guard said with a smile.

The joke didn’t stop here. While Austin Reeves tried to handle his own media duties in the locker room afterward, Doncic decided to interrupt by hitting two towels at the third-year guard. Reeves didn’t make a move and responded laughing, “I actually got a gift for you, you’re crazy!”

The light-hearted conversation highlights the growing chemistry in Los Angeles that is ultimately translating into the win column. The Lakers didn’t just talk big games; He played one. Along with Doncic, Reeves provided a big spark off the bench. He finished the night with 18 points and three assists, and shot an efficient 7-11 from the floor.

DeAndre Ayton took over on defense and dominated the boards, scoring four points and 10 rebounds, helping the Lakers overcome a Warriors team led by Gui Santos’ 14 points.

Winning fixes everything, and for a Lakers team that has faced a lot of outside noise lately, seeing their two most popular players trade barbs and towels is a good sign. It remains to be seen if Reeves actually has a gift for Luka, but a 28-point road win over a rival is a very solid start.


#Austin #Reeves #claps #Luka #Doncics #Presents #diss

Austin Reeves’ 7-word response to Charles Barkley’s LA criticism

inside the nba Host Charles Barkley was not impressed with the Los Angeles Lakers after their 125–122 win over the Los Angeles Clippers. On Saturday morning’s edition of Inside the NBA after the game, Barkley reiterated his old view that the Lakers are not championship contenders and that they will not beat the Thunder and other top teams in the West.

“It depends on the seeding because if they’re six, seven or eight and they have to play Denver, Houston or OKC, they’re not going to be able to beat those teams. I’m not even sure they can beat San Antonio,” Barkley said.

Even before Doncic was traded to the Lakers, the Pro Basketball Hall of Famer turned studio analyst remained consistent in his sentiments regarding the Lakers. He never saw the Lakers as a true contender and his doubts continued throughout the season.

But yesterday the moment was different. As Lakers guard, Austin Reaves, waited to be interviewed by the Inside the NBA crew, he had the headset on as Barkley talked about his team’s prospects. Ernie Johnson asked if Reeves had heard the conversation.

Reeves replied, “Yeah, I heard a little bit. Everyone’s entitled to their own opinion.”

Currently, the Lakers are the fifth seed in the Western Conference after the All-Star break. They are one game ahead of the Minnesota Timberwolves and three games ahead of the seventh-seeded Phoenix Suns in the loss column.

This season, the Lakers have wins over Minnesota and San Antonio as well as a Denver team without Nikola Jokic. So far, they have not been able to beat the Oklahoma City Thunder, and the Spurs have beaten them three times since their November 5 win.

But the Lakers are on a two-game winning streak and will host the Boston Celtics on Sunday at 6:30 p.m. The game will be broadcast on NBC and Peacock.


#Austin #Reeves #7word #response #Charles #Barkleys #criticism

Austin Reeves baffles everyone with his wild behind the back lap

Austin Reaves had a ridiculous highlight during the Los Angeles Clippers matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night.

Reeves is playing the fifth season of his NBA career with the Lakers. He rose up the ranks as he became one of the best guards in the league, turning himself into one of the top scoring options on the team.

Reaves continues to make headlines with his finesse on the offensive side of the ball. This was the situation during the Lakers’ duel with the Clippers. The star guard drove the ball into the paint behind his back and successfully converted a wild reverse layup, surprising the home crowd.

Austin Reaves, how the Lakers played against the Clippers

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) shoots the ball against LA Clippers forward Derrick Jones Jr. (5), guard Benedict Mathurin (9) and forward John Collins (20) during the first half at Crypto.com Arena.
Kirby Lee-Images Images

It was an incredible highlight for Austin Reaves as he helped the Lakers come out of the All-Star break with a solid 125-122 win over the Clippers.

The two teams went toe-to-toe throughout the game and the Lakers only led 99-95 heading into the fourth quarter. Despite this, the hosts held on and made enough big plays to secure a win over their state rivals.

Four players scored in double figures for the Lakers in the win, including Reaves. He finished with a stat line of 29 points, six rebounds, two assists and two steals. He made 9 of 15 shots from the field, including 4 of 5 from beyond the arc and 7 of 7 from the free-throw line. Luka Doncic led the way with 38 points and 11 assists, LeBron James came next with 13 points and 11 assists, while Deandre Ayton provided 13 points and seven rebounds.

Los Angeles improved to a 34–21 record on the season and finished fifth in the Western Conference standings. They are above the Minnesota Timberwolves and Phoenix Suns while trailing the Houston Rockets and Denver Nuggets.

The Lakers will stay at home and await their next matchup. They will host the Orlando Magic as tip-off takes place on February 24 at 10:30 PM ET.


#Austin #Reeves #baffles #wild #lap

Austin Reeves drops ‘interesting’ entry on leadership role

LOS ANGELES – When the Los Angeles Lakers resume the regular season this Friday against the LA Clippers, they will get good news on the injury front. Lakers head coach JJ Redick noted during team practice on Thursday that Austin Reaves, who has returned this month from a calf injury, is no longer on minutes restriction. Reaves’ return to the lineup has been a big boost for the Lakers, and not just for his on-court play, but for his leadership as well.

Going back to last season, Redick has challenged Austin Reaves to take on a more leadership role with the Lakers. After Thursday’s practice, Reeves talked about that ongoing development, and how interesting it has made becoming a leader.

“He [JJ] “Before last year and before this year, we had some meetings over the summer and he challenged me to get better in that aspect,” Reeves said. “I think it’s an opportunity to really connect with everyone on the team. And learn not only about his basketball game, but as a person.”

“We’ve got a great group. Everyone loves being with each other. We’ve got some interesting people, Luca [Doncic] Being one of them,” Reeves joked. “But it’s fun getting to know these people and building real relationships. So when it comes to the court, they really trust what I do and what we do as a team.”

Reeves returned to the Lakers’ lineup at the end of the Grammys road trip during their win against the Brooklyn Nets on February 2. After such a good game by his standards, he looked like the player who was in All-Star contention earlier this season when he scored 35 points in a win against the Philadelphia 76ers.

Since his return he had been on a minutes restriction, meanwhile coming off the bench. But now that the ban has been lifted after the All-Star break, it is possible that he returns to the starting lineup against the Clippers.

Reeves has appeared in a total of 28 games so far this season, averaging a little over 33 minutes per game. He averaged career-highs of 25.4 points, 5.0 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 1.0 steals while splitting 50.8 percent shooting from the field, 36.3 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 86.7 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

In his most recent game, in a win against the Dallas Mavericks just before the break, he finished with 18 points, four rebounds and six assists in 28 minutes.


#Austin #Reeves #drops #interesting #entry #leadership #role

Chris Gottrup reacts to advice from Austin Reeves, Blake Griffin

Chris Gottrup continues his impressive progress as he recently won his fourth title on the PGA Tour at the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale in Arizona.

Gotterup defeated Hideki Matsuyama in a sudden-death playoff, his second win of the year. This also moved him ahead of world No. 1 Scotty Scheffler on the money list, with Gotterup earning nearly $1.7 million at the WM Phoenix Open.

While 26-year-old Gottrup doesn’t need any advice the way he is playing still got something Two fellow Oklahoma products: Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves and former NBA star Blake Griffin.

“Keep doing what you’re doing. To (win) two out of three tournaments is pretty special,” Reeves said in a video posted on Instagram by the PGA Tour.

“Whatever you do, don’t listen to us,” Griffin said.

Gotterup said he knew Reeves and Griffin played golf and he appreciated that they were supporting them.

“It’s funny. It’s amazing. They’re both actually reaching out to me, so it’s cool,” Gotterup said.

“Even though I went to OU for one year, it felt like I went there for all four (years).”

Gottrup said that Reeves “got the game” and expressed his desire to play with him one day. He also gave credit for this to Griffin’s swing.

Gotterup has continued to climb the rankings, outperforming major names at major tournaments, underscoring his status as one of golf’s most exciting young performers.

When NBA studs notice you, you know you’re doing something right.


#Chris #Gottrup #reacts #advice #Austin #Reeves #Blake #Griffin