Reaves Signs $184.76 Million Lakers Extension
The fully guaranteed four-year deal follows Reaves turning down a $14.9 million player option for the 2026-27 season.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Basketball
Austin Reaves signed a four-year, $184.76 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, with the full amount guaranteed. The deal came after Reaves declined his $14.9 million player option for 2026-27 in June.
Why it matters
The contract locks in one of the Lakers' key players for the foreseeable future after a rise from an undrafted rookie to a leading scorer. It also marks a significant payday for a player who went undrafted in 2021 and signed a two-way deal with the team that August.
The deal is worth $184.76 million over four years, with $41.24 million paid in 2026-27 and $49.55 million in 2029-30, the final year carrying a player option. Reaves averaged 23.3 points, 5.5 assists and 4.7 rebounds per game last season across 51 games played due to injuries.
The players
Austin Reaves
Austin Reaves is a Lakers guard who rose from an undrafted two-way signing in 2021 to one of the team's leading scorers.
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an NBA franchise based in Los Angeles that has been among the league's most storied organizations.
The details
Reaves went undrafted in 2021 and signed a two-way contract with the Lakers that August, later earning a four-year, $53.8 million deal in 2023. The new contract is fully guaranteed, and the Lakers and Reaves completed it quickly after the June option decision.
Timeline
August 2021: Reaves signs a two-way contract with the Lakers after going undrafted.
2023: Reaves signs a four-year, $53.8 million deal with the Lakers.
June 2026: Reaves turns down his $14.9 million player option for 2026-27.
Summer 2026: Reaves signs the four-year, $184.76 million contract with the Lakers.
October 2026: Reaves scores a career-high 51 points in a win at Sacramento.
Season Trajectory
Reaves's rise from an undrafted two-way signing in August 2021 to a fully guaranteed $184.76 million deal shows how a late-round path can lead to a major contract. The extension anchors the Lakers' core for the coming seasons after Reaves averaged 23.3 points per game last year.
The guaranteed salary structure means Reaves's earnings are secured regardless of injury or roster changes over the contract's length. The final-year player option at $49.55 million gives the team and player a future decision point that fantasy managers will want to track.
The takeaway
Late-round picks can still earn major long-term commitments when they show production on the court. Track the contract's player option in 2029-30, which will determine the final chapter of this deal.
Further reading
For more on the franchise at the center of the deal, see Basketball coverage of the Los Angeles team.
Source note: This article includes information reported by NDTVSports.
