Multiple players from the Los Angeles Lakers are hitting free agency this summer. Austin Reaves and LeBron James are two of those players but the pair are entering free agency at different stages of their careers.
For James, the 2026-27 season could be the final run of his Hall of Fame career. But for Reaves, the 28-year-old is just reaching the peak of his career and is expected to command a lucrative contract in free agency this summer.
As the Lakers move forward with Luka Doncic as their franchise player, Reaves has shown he can be a strong partner to play alongside Doncic throughout the long-term future.
NBA insider Jovan Buha said the Lakers are prioritizing a future with Reaves over re-signing James for potentially the last season of his career. It is clear James will have to take a pay cut to re-sign with Los Angeles. But Buha said the price of Reaves’ contract will likely influence what the Lakers can offer James.
“If it comes down to whether you’d rather pay Austin $40 million per year for the next five years or LeBron $40 million for one year, they’re going to prioritize the long-term contract,” Buha said on his YouTube channel. “Austin is more of a priority for the Lakers than LeBron.”
Buha also said he expects the Lakers to offer Reaves $35 million a year or more.
Which Other Players Does Buha Expect the Lakers to Re-Sign?
Buha said he predicts Los Angeles will re-sign Jaxson Hayes, Rui Hachimura and Marcus Smart. He also expects the Lakers to ultimately re-sign James even though agreeing on the terms of the contract will be complicated.
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