The Lakers have a busy offseason ahead, with many of their players entering free agency. But the two most important free agents are Austin Reaves and LeBron James. The Lakers have a clear hierarchy for who to retain, and Reaves is at the top of that list.
According to Lakers insider Jovan Buha, the Lakers are prioritizing Austin Reaves over LeBron this offseason.
“If it comes down to would you rather pay Austin 40 million for the next five years or LeBron 40 million for one year, they’re going to prioritize the long-term contract here. Austin is more of a priority for the Lakers than LeBron is. That’s just a fact.”
On the surface, that sounds shocking. LeBron James remains one of the NBA’s biggest stars and continues to perform at an elite level despite being the league’s oldest player. But the point isn’t that Reaves is a better player than LeBron. The Lakers are simply making decisions based on a different timeline than they were just a year ago.
The Shift in Priorities
For years, the Lakers have revolved around LeBron James, and every decision was made on what made sense around him. But now they have a new franchise cornerstone.
The Lakers now have Luka Doncic. When a franchise acquires a 27-year-old superstar who can realistically lead the team for the next decade, priorities shift. The Lakers view Reaves as part of that long-term foundation with Luka. LeBron, meanwhile, remains a short-term piece, even if he is still one of the team’s best players.
LeBron’s future remains uncertain. He could be finished with basketball next season, or he could decide he wants to play elsewhere. So it makes sense that the Lakers want to commit to someone who is more likely to commit to them for the long term.
That doesn’t mean the Lakers want to move on from LeBron. The Lakers will try to bring him back. The challenge is that the Lakers are attempting to build a roster that can compete immediately while also positioning itself for sustained success around Doncic. Every dollar committed to the roster affects their ability to address other needs, particularly at center and on the wing.
Reaves Has More Leverage
Reaves is expected to have a strong market if he reaches free agency. Multiple teams around the league would gladly offer him a lucrative contract, forcing the Lakers to pay near market value if they want to keep him.
LeBron’s situation is different. While plenty of teams would love to add him, there are very few realistic destinations that both fit his desire to compete and possess the financial flexibility to make a significant offer. As a result, Reaves may actually have more negotiating leverage than many fans realize. That leverage, combined with his age and fit alongside Doncic, makes him one of the franchise’s most important priorities this summer.
What It Means for LeBron
None of this takes away from what LeBron still offers on the court. He’s still a top playmaker, scorer, and leader. But every team eventually moves from one era to another. The Lakers seem to be starting that process now.
The Lakers might still want to win a title with LeBron, but their long-term plans are clear. For the first time since 2018, the Lakers aren’t building their team around LeBron James. Now, they’re focused on Luka Doncic. Austin Reaves fits that new direction. With Luka already locked in with the Lakers, the next step is to sign Reaves long-term to form their duo of the future.
