Austin Reaves to stay with Lakers, agrees to four-year, $185 million contract: Sources

Austin Reaves averaged 23.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.5 assists for the Lakers last season. Kenneth Richmond / Getty ImagesJune 24, 2026 Updated 12:10 pm EDTLos Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves has agreed to a four-year, $185 million contract to remain with the franchise, according to league sources granted anonymity to openly discuss the deal.Reaves, who declined a $14.9 million player option to become an unrestricted free agent, agreed to the deal during the franchise’s exclusive negotiation window with its own players, taking one of the premier free agents off the board before free agency officially opens on June 30.The deal locks Reaves in as Luka Dončić’s backcourt partner, a desire Dončić has made known to Lakers executives in conversations over the past year, according to league sources. Dončić even went so far as to tell the Lakers that he preferred any trade package for former MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo not to include Reaves.

As the Lakers prepared for the draft, the team had preliminary conversations with LeBron James’ representatives, according to league sources. The Lakers also have the opportunity to exclusively negotiate with Rui Hachimura, Jaxson Hayes, Luke Kennard and the rest of their free agents.What will LeBron do?Dave DuFour and Zenab KeitaReaves has battled injuries in each of the last two postseasons. He played through a severe toe injury during the Lakers’ first-round loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2025 and returned from a Grade 2 oblique strain to appear in six games against the Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder during the 2026 postseason.Since signing with the Lakers as an undrafted free agent, Reaves has elevated his game every season, averaging 7.3 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists as a rookie to 23.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.5 assists last season.“He started his journey here as a Laker and has made it very clear to us that he wants his journey to continue as a Laker,” Rob Pelinka said after the Lakers’ 2025-26 season. “And we feel the same way. We want his odyssey to continue to unfold in the purple and gold.”Jun 24, 2026Connections: Sports EditionSpot the pattern. Connect the termsFind the hidden link between sports terms