Los Angeles Lakers hand out record $185MILLION contract to star man as offseason rebuild ramps up

Austin Reaves is set to sign a mammoth new $185million deal with the Los Angeles Lakers, which will go down as the richest contract for an undrafted player in NBA history.

According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Reaves will put pen to paper on a four-year maximum extension worth just over $46m per year in LA, which includes a player option for the final season in 2029-30.

The 28-year-old shooting guard, who was picked up by the Lakers after going undrafted in 2021, reportedly declined his $14.9m player option for the new max deal.

He was reportedly expected to receive free-agent interest from several teams, including the Detroit Pistons, on a maximum-level salary, which forced the Lakers into negotiating a record contract to lock in their homegrown talent. 

His agents, Aaron Reilly and Reggie Berry of AMR Agency, are said to have worked through negotiations over the last 10 days after teams were allowed to negotiate with their own free agents. 

More to follow.