5 years, $241 million! Reeves' new contract reaches max salary standard! The Lakers are willing to sign him to a max deal.

As reported, Reeves refuses to accept a salary reduction to remain a Laker and will seek a maximum contract from the team this summer.

The Los Angeles Lakers are in a pivotal offseason. Following their second-round playoff loss to the Thunder, the urgency to significantly bolster the roster is immediate. Yet, rather than pursuing solid role players, they are confronted with a more difficult challenge right now.

Reeves is expected to decline his $14.9 million player option for next season, becoming an unrestricted free agent. Although multiple signs indicate his desire to return to the Lakers, he will only re-sign on his own terms—and that means nothing less than a max contract.

Los Angeles Times reporter Brad Turner revealed: "Reeves is betting on himself. If the Lakers make an offer, he could land a five-year deal worth $241 million. From what I understand and based on multiple sources, Reeves wants the max. Will he give the Lakers a 'hometown discount'? I doubt it. Maybe he would, but his agent and team certainly won't."

It's no secret that Reeves prefers to stay with the Lakers. This is the only team he has played for during his five-year NBA career, and he has improved significantly each year. In the 2025-26 season, he delivered his best performance, averaging 23.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 1.1 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game, with shooting percentages of 49.0% from the field and 36.0% from three-point range.

Although injuries limited him to just 51 games this season, Reeves proved he can serve as the secondary scorer behind Dončić and earned the full trust of head coach Redick. In the process, his market value skyrocketed far beyond the $13.9 million he was originally scheduled to earn in the 2025-26 season.

Undoubtedly, Reeves' current value far exceeds his existing contract, but is he truly worth a $240 million deal? Some, including former Lakers point guard Lonzo Ball, think he is not. In Ball's view, that level of salary belongs only to top-tier superstars, and Reeves clearly does not fall into that category yet. Despite his scoring ability, he lacks the two-way skill set needed to justify such a massive contract. His playoff performance this year is yet another example.

If Reeves were willing to take a pay cut—even a small one—it would free up some salary cap space for the Lakers to build a stronger roster. Given the team's needs at forward and center, there are indeed many desirable targets on the market, but they must first resolve Reeves' contract situation.

However, without viable alternatives, the Lakers may have no choice but to meet Reeves' demands. Unless they can find another reliable partner for Dončić, they cannot afford to lose their second-leading scorer. And this doesn't even account for the potential departure of James, which would leave a massive hole on the wing.

Ultimately, this summer could completely reshape the landscape of the Los Angeles Lakers. Apart from Dončić and Redick staying put, everything else is up in the air. If the Lakers try to lowball Reeves in negotiations, it could push him to seek a move to another team, putting the Lakers in a tough spot.

Will the Lakers negotiate with Reeves first or with James first? It's an age-old topic regarding James' next destination.

Today, renowned reporter Windhorst was asked whether James will stay with the Lakers. He said: "The Lakers want LeBron back at a specific salary figure. I think LeBron wants to play one more year, and he himself would like to remain in Los Angeles. He has a salary number in mind. My guess is that both sides will eventually reach an agreement—probably shaking hands on a deal about a month from now. That said, I don't see it as a sure thing. I'd put the odds of him staying at about 51%."

Well, 51%—that's basically saying nothing. Actually, I also think there's a 51% chance James goes to the Cavaliers and a 49% chance he stays with the Lakers. What do you all think?