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Par Joël Pütz | Journaliste sportif
The 2025 offseason promises to be a busy one for the Lakers, who must reshape their roster around Luka Doncic while ensuring they don’t overextend their payroll. This means a key roster member could leave just as he’ll be eligible for a huge pay raise in a few months.
What to do this summer? This is the thorny question the Lakers must answer. On paper, the goal seems obvious: surround Luka Doncic with players who fit his needs, as he now embodies the future of the franchise. But should they attract a new superstar to the City of Angels, or should they focus on slightly lower-level players who are easier to pay?
Indeed, the financial factor will weigh heavily in the balance for the Purple and Gold. And it doesn’t just concern the players in the competition, since Austin Reaves might not last long in California. Crucial this season alongside LeBron and Doncic, the guard has nevertheless seen his stock explode as a result and according to Fadeaway World, this would allow him to enter some pretty astounding financial spheres:
Austin Reaves too expensive for the Lakers?
The Los Angeles Lakers find themselves in a complicated position regarding their young star, Austin Reaves. The guard is due to sign a contract extension in next year’s offseason. However, given current CBA guidelines, the team can only offer him a maximum of $82.9 million over four years. Considering the value the young guard has brought to the team, it is safe to say that he would be underpaid.
In light of this, Reaves could consider opting out of his contract and testing free agency, as the 26-year-old could be in line for a max contract worth $42.5 million a year. While this would prove to be a sweet deal for the Lakers guard, there are some concerns that the front office will have to deal with before extending or even entertaining such an offer.
The fact is, right now, Los Angeles simply can’t afford to offer AR15 such a sum. Especially since, despite his superb season, it still seems a bit excessive to offer such a colossal contract to the former undrafted player… The management could therefore capitalize on his market value and obtain a nice compensation in exchange, in order to strengthen the roster around Doncic:
For a player who struggled in the postseason, averaging just 16.2 points on 41.1% shooting, those are eye-popping numbers. And it may be too much for the Lakers’ front office to stomach, especially after a first-round exit where Reaves’ limitations were exposed by a tougher, more physical Timberwolves team. Rob Pelinka and the Lakers brass now face a critical decision: lock in Reaves at a premium rate despite playoff inconsistencies, or cash in on his rising value via trade while they still can.
