The Los Angeles Lakers have made no secret of their long-term vision since acquiring Luka Dončić. The franchise’s focus is building its next championship contender around the 27-year-old superstar, and that strategy could have major implications for both LeBron James and Austin Reaves this offseason.
According to Lakers insider Jovan Buha, Reaves has emerged as a higher organizational priority than James as free agency approaches.
“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. “Austin is more of a priority for the Lakers than LeBron.”
The reasoning is straightforward. Reaves is entering his prime at 28 years old and fits alongside Dončić’s timeline.
After averaging a career-best 23.3 points and 5.5 assists during the 2025-26 season, Reaves has evolved from an undrafted role player into one of the franchise’s foundational pieces.
The Lakers have also publicly expressed their desire to keep him. President of basketball operations Rob Pelinka recently stated that the franchise wants Reaves’ “odyssey” in Los Angeles to continue, while Reaves himself told TMZ he wants to “run it back” with the Lakers.
That doesn’t mean James is no longer wanted. The Lakers still hope the NBA’s all-time leading scorer returns for a 24th season.
Reaves has repeatedly spoken about his close relationship with James and said it would “mean the world” to continue playing alongside him.
Still, the franchise’s priorities appear clear. Dončić is the centerpiece, Reaves is viewed as a long-term co-star, and James, despite his legendary status, is operating on a year-to-year timeline.
For the first time in decades, the Lakers’ future may matter more than their past.
