LA Lakers expert provides crucial update on Austin Reaves ahead of 2026 free agency, he has one goal next summer

Austin Reaves is entering the final season of his LA Lakers contract with one goal in mind.

Austin Reaves might go down as one of the best undrafted players in NBA history.

After not hearing his name called on draft night, Reaves signed a contract with the LA Lakers .

Immediately upon arrival, Reaves earned LeBron James trust on the Lakers , as the legendary superstar would hold Reaves to a very high standard.

In the years since, Reaves has become the Lakers third option , and one of the best third options in the entire NBA.

But as he looks set to enter free agency, Reaves is looking to get $30 million in salary .

As far as his mindset goes, its one that shouldnt come as a surprise.

Photo by David Berding/Getty Images Austin Reaves wants to be an LA Lakers player for life LA Lakers insider Jovan Buha spoke on Spectrum SportsNet about Austin Reaves future with the team.

He believes that Reaves will re-sign with the team for $30 million.

Buha explained that Reaves wants to stay with the Lakers for life and is hoping to earn a contract that allows him to do so.

If you look at some of the guys in that range, like Immanuel Quickley , Tyler Herro , I think Austin is easily in that class.

Better than a lot of the guys in that $30-32 million range.

Context and leverage are always factors here.

So well see what type of season he has and the type of playoff performance he has.

People around the league are penciling him in to make $30+ million this summer, whether its with the Lakers or someone else.

I expect it to be with the Lakers, I expect him to re-sign on a multi-year deal.

I think thats the shrewd move on LAs part.

He wants to be a Laker for life.

This is a guy who could have been drafted and decided to be undrafted so he could sign with the Lakers...

Austin wants to be in LA, and I expect that to be the thing.

But I do expect the next contract to be like four years, $120 million next summer.

Jovan on Austin Reaves: "People around the league are penciling him in to make $30+ million this summer whether it's with the Lakers or someone else.

I expect it to be with the Lakers...he wants to be a Laker for life" pic.twitter.com/5WBfgkg3YI Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) August 15, 2025 LeBron James future will greatly impact team building If the Lakers are willing to provide Reaves with the $120 million contract that he is aiming for, that certainly spells the end for LeBron James in LA.

James accepted his $52.6 million player option , meaning that he will become a free agent next season unless the Lakers re-sign him before the deadline.

As things stand, the Lakers are willing to let LeBron leave in free agency.

Perhaps letting LeBron go is their way of holding on to Austin Reaves going forward.

If that is the case, it would be quite a controversial decision, as the Lakers would be giving up an all-time great NBA player for a third option with an All-Star ceiling.

Reaves is a wonderful player, but the Lakers have to ask themselves whether keeping him is worth losing LeBron James for nothing..

This article has been shared from the original article on yardbarker, here is the link to the original article.