Since the OKC Thunder swept them in the Western Conference Semifinals, it's been widely believed that the Los Angeles Lakers will strongly consider making some significant shakeups this coming summer.
Though the majority of people may have thought said shakeups would involve bolstering their talent pool to better equip themselves for another potential playoff run-in with the Thunder or another top-tier squad in the conference, recent rumblings could indicate a major move may involve a key talent subtraction.
According to Dan Woike of The Athletic, a number of teams, specifically out in the Eastern Conference, are expected to make a run at guard Austin Reaves in free agency this summer, including the Brooklyn Nets, who, per Bobby Marks of ESPN, could realistically offer him something in the max-level range.
Though there's consensus that the 28-year-old and Los Angeles have a mutual interest in staying together, a looming question is whether or not the two parties share a sense of what a fair offer would look like.
Should Rob Pelinka and company fall short, there appear to be several clubs out there who are willing to back up the Brink's truck to attain his services.
Thunder clearly benefit if Lakers are priced out of signing Austin Reaves
Let's not forget that the last time the Lakers and Reaves held contract negotiations, the number floated out there by the front office was a four-year, $89.2 million offer. This time around, he's eligible to ink a five-year, $239 million deal, a little under three times more than that.
Where Los Angeles falls in this train of thought could directly impact his future with the Lakers, which, in turn, could only benefit the Thunder.
Reaves put forth a career-best campaign in 2025-26, dropping remarkable averages of 23.3 points, 5.5 assists, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.1 steals while shooting 49.0 percent from the floor and 36.0 percent from deep.
Needless to say, if Los Angeles isn't willing to pay him, another team gladly will.
Clearly, keeping him on the Lakers for the long haul alongside superstar Luke Doncic only makes it all the more likely that they'll be secured in the title-contender category alongside Oklahoma City for many years to come.
However, seeing him head outbound, especially to an East team like the Nets, would only mean that a one-time prominent adversary has not only left a direct Thunder threat in a far worse situation, but has also made him a mere afterthought outside of the hypothetical scenario where his new team meets OKC in the Finals.
Without a doubt, the Thunder should be rooting to see a change of scenery from Reaves this offseason.
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