There is no need for a fortune teller to determine who the Lakers are considering for their next face. Once Luka Doncic put pen to paper on his three-year, $165 million deal, the signs were very clear. Rob Pelinka also gave the fans something to cheer for amid the constant exit news about LeBron James. But the GM’s work is not done yet. The future of another star, Austin Reaves, still seems to be in limbo.

Last year was truly a breakout season for the Sooners alum. He averaged 20.2 points, 5.8 assists, and 4.5 rebounds, despite being the third option. So, in some sense, he has already proved his worth. The 27-year-old declined a four-year extension, worth almost $90 million, and sources predict the Lakers won’t get his signature to his $14.8 million player option for 2026–27. An anonymous executive said to ESPN, “I think he will get $30 [million] plus“. See the difference in value that AR could get in the open market. Rob Pelinka is already aware of this, but he needs to be careful, as per Austin Rivers.

On his podcast, the 11-year veteran shared a word of caution for the Lakers GM. “My thing for me is Luka. Ideally, I would like to have, I would, I like to see him paired with a guy who can defend a little bit because when you have both of them out there, it’s trouble.” This notion is also clear with the help of some stats. No doubt Reaves adds to the team’s offence, but defensively, he is susceptible. With him on the floor along with Luka Doncic, the defensive points allowed go from 106.8 to 114+.

When you add LeBron James into the mix, the defensive numbers fall harder. Across 870 possessions with Doncic, James, and Reaves sharing the court, the Lakers ranked in the 14th percentile in defensive rating. With the Slovenian signing an extension, he will surely be on the court leading the team. And there is no chance that when King James is available, the Lakers will not play him. That leaves Austin Reaves out, who could be the sixth man and provide the charge.

Improving on the defensive end is still possible for the 27-year-old. Any improvement there, plus the current offensive output, makes him an ideal candidate to earn the big contract. Austin Rivers added, “He didn’t play as great as versus Minnesota. And some of those matchups were problematic for him. But I still think Reeves is a big time player. If you average in 20 points a game dog, you can get 25 to 30 million a year… Anybody who’s averaging 20 or above is making $30 million a year, man…“via Off Guard podcast.

Good news for Austin Reaves as sources confirm Rob Pelinka’s future plan

Against the Timberwolves in the first-round series last year, there was a visible dip in his performance. FG and 3-point shooting percentage reduced from 46% and 37.7% to 41.1% and 31.9%. A significant drop, which he hopes not to continue. To be solidified as a future backcourt partner to Luka Doncic, Reaves will need to earn his stripes this season. And for that, Pelinka has a plan. According to the ‘Third Apron’ reporter Yossi Gozlan, the 27-year-old is still part of the future.

“The Lakers are more or less married to their current roster for the next two years, with the biggest factor being LeBron James. They could bring him back on a one-year maximum-level contract in 2026-27 as they wait out their cap space plans. But Doncic and Reaves are the two priorities in their quest for a star.” So, Luka Doncic being part of the future is given. But that is great news for Austin Reaves, who has often said he would like to retire as a Laker. But then again, the league doesn’t run on emotions. If that were the case, Luka would still be with the Mavericks.

Will AR have a future like Doncic? There are two possibilities for this. Either he can get the expected money from the Lakers, like the 5x All-Star got. Or the Purple and Gold franchise can trade him, just like the Mavs did with Luka. Remember, the reported reason for the exit was the defensive issue that the front office had with the Slovenian.