The most talked about Los Angeles Lakers star this summer has not been LeBron James or Luka Doncic; it has been the team’s talented shooting guard, Austin Reaves. The 27-year-old has spent the majority of the summer at the center of trade talks. In fact, during the initial days of the offseason, it seemed like he was all but destined to a move away from the franchise. However, we’re just a few days away from the training camp, but AR hasn’t been traded. But that doesn’t mean that he isn’t concerned about his future.

How do we know? Well, Austin Reaves himself has attested to the fact that although right now he is a Lakers player, there’s no telling what plans the front office holds for his future. In a recent interview with The Athletic, he revealed that he was scared that the front office might ship him away after he refused to sign an extension this summer. “I thought that there was a good chance for, like, a week after I declined the extension that there was a possibility I’d get traded,” Reaves said. “I mean, it’s still a possibility.”

The extension he turned down was a four-year $89.2 million deal. Seems like a decent amount of money, right? More so, given that right now he’s on a four-year $54 million contract. Nonetheless, while it might seem like a great offer on the surface. Reaves turned it down to back himself because, with him set to join teammate LeBron James in free agency next season, he could demand a much more lucrative deal worth around $35 million annually next summer as a free agent.

That’s why he told Rob Pelinka and Jeanie Buss, “Thank you, but no. I expressed that. Like, it was, ‘Y’all gave me an opportunity. Rob, you gave me an opportunity. Jeanie, you’ve treated my family amazing. Everything we’ve wanted, needed since we’ve been here, you’ve taken care of. And we appreciate y’all of that. But we didn’t think that the number was the right number. And that’s not saying that we’re gonna go search for a number that’s out of the world.”

“I want to be in L.A. I want to continue to play Virginia Country Club on off days. It’s not like we’re trying to just whack ’em over the head for more money than what I deserve. We just want to get what we feel like I’ve put the work in to get,” he further added. Although Reaves refused to ink a new deal with the franchise, which prompted him to think negatively about his future, the 27-year-old cleared the air around his love for the Purple & Gold. Well, this isn’t the first time that Austin Reaves has showcased his love and appreciation for the Lakers.

After all, it’s the same organization that gave him a chance after he went undrafted back in 2021. However, it’s a two-way road. That’s because while it’s true that the Lakers gave him an opportunity, Reaves has also given more than 100 percent for the franchise every time he’s stepped on the court. So much so that he’s gone from a rather unknown guard to arguably one of the best sixth men in the league. As a result of the same, he might be on his way to getting a massive hike next offseason.

Austin Reaves could command a contract upward of $40 million per year next season

Last season was a breakthrough year for Los Angeles Lakers superstar Austin Reaves. That’s because he averaged 20.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game throughout the 2024-25 campaign. Not just that, he achieved such an impressive stat line while shooting around 46 percent from the field and 37.7 percent from deep. However, what made his performances even more impressive was the fact that he was just earning around $12.9 million annually. It goes to show how Reaves is stuck in a contract that seriously undersells his production.

Nonetheless, according to The Athletic’s Dan Woike, that’s about to change pretty soon. How? Well, right now, AR is in the final year of his four-year $54 million contract because the season after this one is a player option, which he’s likely to decline. So, now that Reaves has played the gamble of turning down the extension offered by Jeanie Buss and Rob Pelinka, Woike expected the 27-year-old to draw offers in and around the $40 million per year mark.

Although nothing it confirmed just yet, with an entire season in front of us, it’s not a bad shout, given that Reaves has emerged as a great offensive threat. We mean, his numbers speak for themselves. In fact, if Austin Reaves can pull off an even better campaign with the Lakers this time around, we might even see him push beyond the $40 million mark. Now, these are mere speculations for now, as what will actually happen will be something only time will tell, as we eagerly await the new campaign.