NBA reacts to Austin Reaves' historic Lakers contract: What the deal means

Austin Reaves is returning to the Los Angeles Lakers on a historic deal that seems to be one of those win-win situations you so rarely hear about.

ESPN's Shams Charania on Wednesday dropped major purple and gold news, reporting that Reaves "intends to sign a four-year, $185 million maximum contract to return to the franchise, with a player option for the final season in 2029-30."

The deal helps bring back a fan favorite who proved to be an invaluable offensive threat, and it also makes some history. The reported deal would make Reaves the highest-paid undrafted player in the league's history.

From making history to what this means for the Lakers' cap room and bringing back LeBron James, the NBA world has thoughts, opinions and analysis on the news:

Austin Reaves, Lakers contract news reactions: What it means

Breaking: Los Angeles Lakers star Austin Reaves intends to sign a four-year, $185 million maximum contract to return to the franchise, with a player option for the final season in 2029-30, sources tell @shamscharania.

Reaves lands the richest contract for an undrafted player in… pic.twitter.com/jsdIHdOkaJ
— ESPN (@espn) June 24, 2026

The Reaves agreement has no impact on the Lakers cap flexibility this summer.

The Lakers projected room takes into account Reaves $20.9M cap hold.

He will sign last after the Lakers exhaust room.

$41.3M in the first year. https://t.co/4JGInWaCNy
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) June 24, 2026

Good stuff for Austin, and that takes one of the few elite UFAs off the board https://t.co/YW38WIYPkO
— Nekias (Nuh-KAI-us) Duncan (@NekiasNBA) June 24, 2026

The Lakers today secured Austin Reaves' commitment on a new deal after rising interest from Detroit, league sources say.

I'm told the Pistons began maneuvering to make a real run at Reaves that would've required, among other moves, trading Isaiah Stewart for needed flexibility. https://t.co/cYZLzjSheJ
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) June 24, 2026

Austin Reaves is from a town of 1,200 people in Arkansas, started at Wichita State, and went undrafted out of Oklahoma.

He's now signing a 4-year, $185M max contract with the Lakers—the richest deal EVER for an undrafted player. pic.twitter.com/WLm2E2K64A
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) June 24, 2026

Good for the Lakers keeping Austin Reaves off the open market next week by giving him the max. They’ve made Luka the Face of the Franchise so they needed to lock up his best buddy. Now they have even less reason to pay LeBron.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) June 24, 2026

"What matters if you're a Laker fan? Appeasing Rich Paul & LeBron or the future?"

After signing Austin Reaves to a new max contract, @colincowherd thinks the Lakers need to focus on the future pic.twitter.com/TjqhRDnhtS
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) June 24, 2026

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Austin Reaves' reported Lakers contract sparks debate, reactions

NBA reacts to Austin Reaves' historic Lakers contract: What the deal means

Austin Reaves, Lakers contract news reactions: What it means

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