Austin Reaves Might Not Be a Laker After This Upcoming Offseason

Austin Reaves has not been good in these playoffs or last year’s postseason.

While he’s been injured or coming off an injury both times, no Lakers fan will remember that when looking back at his play these past two playoffs against the Minnesota Timberwolves last year and now the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Without Luka Doncic, Reaves has been asked to be a focal point of the team, but his lackluster play in most of the games he’s played in these playoffs has forced a 41-year-old LeBron James to try to play Superman, to no avail.

And as a free agent this coming offseason and the Lakers a game away from being swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder, the question is going to be asked over and over again until it’s decided: Is Austin Reaves worth $40 million a year?

He plays wonderfully with Doncic and the two are close friends, but with the Lakers doing all they can to keep their roster open the next two years in hopes of landing a gigantic fish to pair with Doncic, like Giannis Antetokounmpo or Nikola Jokic, can they risk investing so much into Reaves?

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In a perfect world, Reaves would be the perfect third person on a championship-contending team with Doncic and a second superstar. Yet, would committing to Reaves, especially if he wants the most he can make, hurt L.A.’s chances of adding that premium running mate for Doncic?

While no actual pundit or maybe even the most optimistic Lakers fan believed the Doncic-less Lakers could take down the defending champion Thunder, there was hope that maybe Reaves could play well enough with James to steal a game or two to possibly open up the possibility of Doncic returning in Game 6 or 7 as a returning hero.

But that won’t be the case.

The next game Reaves plays will most likely be the last the Lakers play this season, and it could very well be the last in an L.A. jersey.

With the Lakers looking to be aggressive this offseason or the next to find Doncic his championship duo partner, Reaves had his chance for his own Hollywood audition against the Thunder.

And unfortunately for him, the Lakers might not call him back.

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This story was originally published May 10, 2026 at 4:34 PM.