As Austin Reaves gets ready to enter free agency, one former Los Angeles Lakers guard has warned the franchise against giving the 27-year-old a max contract. Reaves could be eligible for a max contract of $241 million over 5 years with the Lakers this offseason.
Former Lakers Guard Warns Franchise Against Giving Austin Reaves Max Contract
Reaves has established himself as one of the Lakers’ mainstays since joining the team as a two-way player in 2021. He averaged a career-high 23.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 1.1 steals per game this season, helping the Lakers clinch the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference and reach the second round of the playoffs.
The Lakers face a key decision regarding the future of Reaves this summer, with the 6-foot-5 guard set to become an unrestricted free agent. But former Lakers star Lonzo Ball does not think that Reaves is deserving of a max contract. Instead, Ball would offer him a contract worth around $150 million.
“I’m not doing it. If he’s on my team, he would be my fourth. I got $150 million for him, and he’s taking that sh**,” Ball said on the “Ball in the Family” podcast.
Lonzo Ball says he wouldn’t offer Austin Reaves a $240M max contract to re-sign with the Lakers:
“I got $150 million for him, and he’s taking that sh**.”
(@ballinthefampod, @ToTheBaha) pic.twitter.com/fRJI2y3YPP
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) May 27, 2026
Ball, who was most recently waived by the Utah Jazz and is facing an uncertain future in the NBA, was also critical of Reaves’ defensive skills and claimed that Luka Dončić can lead the Lakers’ offense on his own. The second overall pick of the 2017 NBA draft added that he would trade the guard for Peyton Watson of the Denver Nuggets due to his superior defensive skills.
“I would trade him for Peyton Watson straight up. If I got Luka, I’m cool on offense honestly. For defense, you have to put Peyton in there,” he added.
Amid Ball’s comments, Reaves did get the seal of approval from Dončić following the conclusion of the Lakers’ season. The Lakers superstar reportedly made it clear to the franchise that he would like to continue playing with Reaves next season. Dončić also reportedly did not want Reaves included in any possible trade packages for Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The future of Reaves is not the only one the Lakers hierarchy will have to resolve this offseason. The contract of LeBron James is also expiring this summer, and the four-time NBA champion now faces a decision on whether to return to the Lakers, move elsewhere, or retire.
