Will the Lakers keep Rivers or trade him?

According to the latest article by Sidant Gupta, a contributor to media sports media F/W. Reeves has always been a key figure in the Lakers because his contract is very affordable. But his future choice to jump out of the contract could force the team into a situation where he pays him more than $30 million to keep him. Lakers guard Reeves has been one of the team’s key players over the past few seasons. For the most part, Reeves can seamlessly adapt to the role of the third star, who has grown and developed into a valuable asset. One of the main reasons Reeves is so valuable to the team is that he often surpasses his contract. His previous contract extension led him to a four-year, $53 million contract. Considering his revenue is increasing each season, Reeves will make just under $14 million next season. The 2026-27 season is a worrying place for the Purple and Gold Corps, with the 26-year-old having a player option in the final year of his contract. While he can choose to join and accept a salary of just under $15 million this season, he is more likely to choose to try out the waters of free agents, as Bleacher Report's Eric Pincus said.

He said: "Reeves almost certainly gave up his $14.9 million player option for the 2026-27 season to explore unrestricted free agents next summer, seeking a $30 million starting salary. The maximum amount he can renew ($19.5 million) is much lower than that. Any team that acquires him will require a salary guarantee and he will re-sign at a pre-arranged price."

Demand for Rivers has soared over the past few seasons. The young star showed his innate ability to attack alone when he was on the court. Whether through his scoring or organizational ability, his impact on the offensive end is undeniable. From a performance standpoint, the 2024-25 season was a productive season for the defender. Reeves averaged 20.2 points per game, a big improvement from the average of 15.9 points last season. Given his bigger role in the team, his rebounds and assists figures have also risen, averaging 4.5 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game and shooting 46.0%.

Doncic's joining the Lakers means Reeves will take on fewer roles, because the Slovenian does more than he does. But the defender duo formed a solid backcourt combination for the Lakers to end the regular season. Unfortunately, Reeves' ability took a hit in a series of relatively bland playoffs. Although it's understandable considering he played with a toe injury. But the Lakers defenders remained responsible for their poor performance, resulting in the Lakers losing 4-1 to Minnesota in the first round.

In any case, the Lakers' concerns about keeping Reeves next summer make sense. There are rumors that James may return on a two-year, $105 million contract, which may not be affordable if Reeves asks for a $30 million contract. Reeves' value in the trading market has also made him mention in several offseason trading rumors. Given that the Lakers are working to win the championship right now, a trading plan, including Reeves, may be the best way to ensure the team gets superstars in this situation.