The Los Angeles Lakers are 11-3 without LeBron James and 4-2 without Luka Doncic this season. Coach JJ Redick deserves a lot of credit for the way he’s kept his team afloat when his star players have had to sit, but Austin Reaves should get most of the flowers.
The undrafted shooting guard is putting up career highs all across the board, and he’s been the healthiest of the Lakers’ trio. He’s averaging 28.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, 6.7 assists, 1.1 steals, and 2.9 three-pointers per game on 50/37/80 shooting splits, and he’s put up career highs in scoring (51) and assists (16) this season.
As good as that might be for the Lakers now, it could spell trouble for them in the future. He will be an unrestricted free agent in 2026, and he could be playing his way out of their price range. At least, that’s how Reggie Miller feels.
Reggie Miller warns the Lakers about Austin Reaves’ price tag
Talking on The Dan Patrick Show, the legendary sharpshooter tipped his hat to Reaves, praising him for becoming a self-made superstar in Los Angeles:
“Look, no one saw this coming,” Miller stated. “And again, I always tell people this. You’re a product of your environment. He went undrafted, and he wanted to sign with the Lakers. He saw a fit and a place where he thought he could build a niche. He took a gamble on himself, Dan, and knock on wood, health provided, I think it’s going to pay off. Because the Lakers or someone is going to have to pay him because he is a legitimate number one on a bad team if he goes somewhere else. So, he could be a number one on a bad team or if he stays with the Lakers, be an unbelievable Robin to Batman.”
He also believes that the former G-League standout will now get around $50 million per year in his next deal:
“I mean that’s what it looks like,” Miller said. “You can’t fault that. He’s put in the work. So, 50 million is coming his way either from the Lakers or from someone else. The matter will be, will it be for five years or four years? He’s getting it somewhere.”
Reaves is making roughly $14 million this season, and he’s eligible to get a five-year, $240.7 million contract from the Lakers or a four-year, $178 million deal somewhere else.
He’s been vocal about his desire to stay in sunny California, and with this potentially being the end of the line for LeBron James, the Lakers will be wise to meet his salary demands and keep him around for the long run.