The Los Angeles Lakers have plenty to decide on in the coming weeks as Rob Pelinka works to put together the best roster possible entering the 2025-26 campaign.
Some of the negotiations that Pelinka has moving forward will be with the representation of players currently on the roster, as the franchise can offer extensions to a pair of its key contributors. While it remains to be seen what it ultimately means for their future with the Purple and Gold, one of those extension-eligible players has already informed the organization that he has no interest in signing the max extension that was offered to him.
Austin Reaves Refusing Max Extension Offer Could Force Lakers' Hand
The Lakers were able to offer Austin Reaves a four-year extension worth up to $89.2 million, and they did just that once the front office was allowed to do so. Not surprisingly, Reaves and his representation turned down that offer as he stands to make even more money on a new deal by waiting until the summer of 2026 to sign a new contract as an unrestricted free agent.
Sources: Lakers guard Austin Reaves declined a max extension with the team earlier this week. Here's what that means and why it shouldn't be a surprise https://t.co/sIbIG0PEOL
— Dan Woike (@DanWoikeSports) June 26, 2025
From a financial perspective, this was the appropriate move for Reaves to make, as he stands to earn a larger salary by testing the open market a year from now, which is the plan at this time, per Woike. With that being said, this makes Reaves a bit more expendable than he may have been thought to be before now.
On the court, Reaves has proven to be a good fit alongside LeBron James and Luka Doncic. The problem is that it didn't lead the franchise past the opening round of the Western Conference playoffs. Ultimately, committing even more money to Reaves once the summer of 2026 rolls around is a bit of a risky proposition. The Lakers prioritize championships, not playoff appearances, and that won't change now that the Buss family has agreed to sell its majority stake in the franchise.
Should Los Angeles get off to a slow start once the 2025-26 season tips off, Pelinka could be in a position where he is forced to make a change to maximize the time LeBron James has left with the Lakers, however long that may be. Reaves would be their best trade chip in that scenario if the Purple and Gold felt a third veteran star would be necessary around James and Doncic.
This isn't to suggest that Reaves is a goner now that he has declined this extension. It just opens the door to the possibility slightly more than it had been before this point.