Can t keep it anymore? Reeves is expected to chase a 40 million annual salary contract. The Lakers can only provide 89.2 million in four years

Lakers player Reeves performed very well in the regular season in the 2024-25 season. In the regular season, he has become the team's three stable leader, able to contribute All-Star level data, and can also bring a lot of help to the Lakers in terms of ball holding and organization. But in the playoffs, Reeves didn't perform well this year. In the first round series between the Lakers and the Timberwolves, Reeves was completely restricted by the Timberwolves. Once he could not get a free throw, his offensive threat would be greatly reduced.

After the end of the first round series with the Timberwolves this year, those fans who think Reeves is a non-sale product have gradually changed their views on him. Reeves has only one year left in the contract with the Lakers. Whether he can stay with the Lakers is also a topic worth paying attention to. However, judging from the current news, Reeves may leave the Lakers to seek a bigger contract. Because, the Lakers can no longer issue a contract that satisfies him.

Recently, Lakers media Silver Screen and Roll updated social media, saying that team defender Austin Reeves' next contract will have an annual salary of more than $30 million. In the summer of 2023, Reeves renewed the Lakers with a four-year, early bird max salary contract of 56 million, of which the fourth year was the player option. According to Ricardo Sandoval, the Lakers will be able to provide Reeves with a four-year, $89.2 million contract extension this summer, but Reeves is expected to refuse to renew and will jump to existing contracts (Reeves holds the player option in the 26-year offseason), and test the free agent market in 26 years. By then, according to the labor-management agreement, Reeves is expected to pursue a contract with an annual salary of $42.5 million.

In my opinion, the Lakers have made their best efforts to provide Rivers with a contract of $89.2 million for four years. And Reeves' actual level is worth the money. It can be seen from this year's playoffs that Reeves' level has obviously dropped a lot in high-end games. Once the opponent improves the defensive intensity and gives him more physical confrontation, and the referee does not give free throws, Reeves is the level of a role player. If he performs better, the Lakers can defeat the Timberwolves and advance to the second round.

Moreover, in today's Lakers, Reeves and Doncic are really incompatible. Doncic knows all the skills of Reeves, and he masters them better than he has. Simply put, Reeves and Doncic cannot coexist on the court, and at the same time, their defensive weaknesses will be captured by the opponent. Once two defensive colanders exist at the same time on the court, the Lakers' defense line is like paper and can only be slaughtered by the opponent. In this year's playoffs, the Timberwolves broke the Lakers' defense line.

If Rivers is determined to want a contract with an annual salary of $30 million to $40 million, the Lakers can let him go. He earns this money wherever he wants to go to. The Lakers can't give more, because in that case, the Lakers will lock in the salary space on the one hand, and on the other hand, they will have to pay super high luxury taxes, which will not be able to sign and strengthen. Unless James cuts his salary significantly. But how is that possible?

In short, Rivers' annual salary is between 20 million and 25 million US dollars, which is a relatively reliable price. No matter how expensive it is, the best choice is to part ways. Fans, what do you think?