ESPN: Clippers sign star man in light of the $83 million Lakers news.
Austin Reaves, an undrafted free agent who joined the Los Angeles Lakers in 2021, has been an integral member of the team and has become better every year since. He started all 73 of the games he played in last season and averaged a career-high 20.2 points per game.
For the 2026–2027 season, Reaves has a player option worth $14.9 million. The Arkansas native is also eligible for a four-year, $82.9 million contract next summer. Even if it’s a raise, this contract isn’t much better than his existing four-year, $53.8 million agreement, so he may decide not to sign an extension next year and instead opt out of his current contract and test unrestricted free agency.
The Lakers will probably make some significant adjustments to optimize their personnel around Luka Doncic, therefore it is noteworthy that Reaves may be a possible trade option this winter.
There are a few particular clubs to watch in relation to a possible deal involving Reaves, even if nothing is official yet. One such opponent is someone the Lakers are all too acquainted with and who could be interested in signing them as their main shooting guard.
There should be many suitors if the Lakers decide to sell Reaves or at least consider offers for him. At just 27, Reaves has improved with every season. The Los Angeles Clippers, who would gain from having another shooting guard on the squad, are among those possible suitors for Reaves.
The Clippers (+400), the New York Knicks, and the Miami Heat are the teams that Bovada Sportsbook believes have the best chance of acquiring Reaves from the Lakers in a possible deal. Despite losing to the Denver Nuggets in a seven-game series, the Clippers, like the Lakers, were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs this season.
The Clippers did not falter and continue to appear to be a postseason contender despite losing Paul George last summer. They would go to a new level if they could bring in a player like Reaves. But it’s worth keeping an eye on this summer to see if the Lakers might support their competitors in this way.
