Have we seen the last of Austin Reaves as a Los Angeles Laker? Amid reports that Reaves will decline his $14.9 million player option for next season, he is expected to enter unrestricted free agency and is in line for a significant payday, whether with the Lakers or a rival team.
It’s hard to imagine LA not doing whatever it takes to re-sign Reaves. Still, there should be plenty of suitors around the league for a guard who took a huge leap into stardom this season, averaging over 23 points on 49% shooting. Furthermore, given this year’s thin free agent class, Reaves is likely to spark a bidding war.
Looking at Potential Free Agent Destinations for Lakers’ Austin Reaves
Los Angeles Lakers
Reaves re-upping with the Lakers still seems by far the most likely, as both sides reportedly want to get a deal done. LA developed him from an unheralded college prospect into a star-caliber guard, averaging career highs in points and rebounds in the 2025-26 season.
Furthermore, Lakers president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka and coach JJ Redick have made it clear they want to retain the 27-year-old.
“We want his odyssey to continue in the purple and gold … both sides have made it abundantly clear that we want to work something out,” Pelinka said, with Redick adding, “we want that core to be back together,” in reference to Reaves and LeBron James’ uncertain futures.
According to The Athletic’s Dan Woike and Sam Amick, Luka Dončić has expressed to ownership his desire for Reaves to return. The insiders also reported that “league and team sources believe the Lakers and Reaves will eventually land on a contract.”
However, if the price point becomes unrealistic, others could swoop in.
Chicago Bulls
Woike and Amick mentioned that league executives see Reaves’ price point potentially going as high as $40 million per year, given that he is by far the best free agent on the market. In that case, the Chicago Bulls fit the bill as a big-market team with a need at shooting guard and the necessary cap space to make Reaves the new face of their franchise.
The Bulls could theoretically accelerate their rebuild with two top-15 picks in the 2026 NBA Draft, including No. 4 overall.
Furthermore, one can imagine Reaves would thrive as a perimeter threat alongside playmaking point guard extraordinaire Josh Giddey. 2024 first-round selection Matas Buzelis, a young, athletic forward with a bright future ahead of him, is also a key selling point.
ESPN’s Bobby Marks noted that the Bulls have a league-leading $54 million in cap space, so they could easily afford to sign Reaves. However, with Billy Donovan leaving his coaching position and a new front office in charge, there may be too much upheaval for Reaves to look to join the rebuilding squad.
Atlanta Hawks
According to Woike and Amick, the Atlanta Hawks are a team with known interest in Reaves. However, they pointed out that Atlanta would need to make roster moves to free up enough cap space.
Even so, according to Marks, “Atlanta is in as good a financial shape as any playoff team in 2026.”
With a priority for Reaves being to play for a postseason contender, the Hawks fit the bill. Jalen Johnson, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Dyson Daniels, and Onyeka Okongwu form a compelling young core. Add to that the veteran savvy of CJ McCollum and the No. 8 overall pick in this year’s draft.
Buddy Hield has a partially guaranteed contract, and Jonathan Kuminga has a team option for next season, although Kuminga played well after being traded to Atlanta.
If the Hawks can make the finances work, Reaves could very well be the missing ball-handler they need to compete in the Eastern Conference.
Utah Jazz
The final team mentioned by Woike and Amick with known interest in Reaves is the Utah Jazz. Although they only won 22 games this season, the Jazz have a very bright future. After Austin Ainge acquired Jaren Jackson Jr. from the Memphis Grizzlies to pair with star forward Lauri Markkanen, Keyonte George, and Ace Bailey, there is an exciting nucleus forming in Utah.
However, the Jazz are also expected to match Walker Kessler’s offer sheet as a restricted free agent. Doing so would likely take them out of the running to sign Reaves.
According to Sports Illustrated, they could have around $25 million in cap space, and shedding some other contracts, such as John Konchar’s, could make a push for Reaves conceivable. Still, Kessler’s looming extension and a future George extension make it unlikely, considering the financial commitments of both Jackson and Markkanen.
The least likely free agent option would be the Brooklyn Nets. Although they are one of the only teams with enough cap space, outside of the Bulls and Lakers, to pay Reaves, it’s hard to imagine a free agent leaving star-studded Los Angeles and willingly choosing Brooklyn as a destination. They are a franchise in the midst of a long rebuild and are a distant afterthought in a market dominated by the New York Knicks.
Thus, the most likely option is the Lakers, as they can offer Reaves more than any other team and are arguably on the precipice of reaching the mountaintop in the West. However, if he ultimately tests free agency, don’t discount the Hawks or Bulls as serious possibilities for the Lakers standout.
