The Los Angeles Lakers are widely expected to re-sign Austin Reaves this offseason and internally dismiss concerns about fielding him alongside Luka Doncic on the defensive end, according to league sources. Lakers president Rob Pelinka publicly expressed confidence a deal will get done before free agency opens June 30.

"He started his journey here as a Laker and has made it very clear to us that he wants his journey to continue as a Laker," said Pelinka. "There's rules and timing to all of that, but I think both sides have made it abundantly clear that we want to work something out where he continues his prolific career here."

One team source told ESPN that defensive concerns about a Doncic-Reaves backcourt pairing are overstated, provided the Lakers address its wing and frontcourt needs elsewhere. Reaves is also regarded internally as one of the locker room's most important voices.

The Lakers view Reaves as a natural fit alongside Doncic as a secondary playmaker capable of creating off the ball and generating his own shot. His cap hold sits at $20.9 million, giving Los Angeles flexibility to conduct other offseason business before formally signing him.

Rival executives project Reaves' new deal to exceed $40 million annually, with the Brooklyn Nets expected to offer four years and $178.5 million.

"You can't let a talent like that walk," said one Western Conference executive. "That would be a disaster."