Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves is expected to decline his $14.9 million player option for next season in order to cash in on a much bigger payday. Reaves is reportedly seeking a maximum contract from the Lakers, or another team, in free agency.
Because he's had only five years in the league, Reaves is eligible for a 25% of the cap maximum deal in free agency. The most he could get from the Lakers projects to be $239 million over five years. Another team could offer Reaves a max deal of $177 million over four years. Both contracts would start at just over $41 million for next season.
The Chicago Bulls and Brooklyn Nets project to be the only teams with enough cap space to offer Reaves a max contract outright. Other teams would have to work out a sign-and-trade deal with Los Angeles to add the combo guard to their roster.
It's unclear if Reaves will give the Lakers any kind of hometown discount in free agency. He famously didn't extend his current deal, because Reaves bet on himself to earn a much bigger deal as a free agent.






