The Los Angeles Lakers may be staring at a franchise altering dilemma. According to NBA insider Kevin O’Connor, the Utah Jazz could be prepared to offer Austin Reaves a maximum contract if he reaches free agency.
O’Connor suggested that Utah “I think the Utah Jazz are going to be a team that has big interest in Austin Reaves this summer,” given their cap flexibility and need for a high IQ offensive hub. That kind of offer would put the Lakers in an uncomfortable position, but the implications go well beyond simply matching a contract.
Why Utah’s interest creates real pressure now
From Utah’s perspective, the logic is clear. They have cap space, a young roster still searching for identity, and the ability to make Reaves a featured offensive piece rather than a complementary one.
Reaves fits perfectly into that vision. He can handle the ball, score efficiently, and elevate teammates without dominating possessions. For a rebuilding team, overpaying is less about value precision and more about securing a reliable cornerstone.
For the Lakers, the danger is timing. Once Reaves reaches the open market, outside teams control the leverage. Utah’s willingness to push a max deal forces Los Angeles to decide whether Reaves fits their long term vision at that price point.
The Lakers’ future cap plan complicates everything
By the time Reaves’ next contract truly matters, LeBron James is likely no longer on the roster. That changes the financial math, but it does not simplify the decision.
LeBron’s departure would free up significant cap space, but that space is not earmarked for retention. It is ammunition. The Lakers’ plan would almost certainly be to chase another star to pair next to Luka Doncic.
That is the key tension. Committing a max contract to Reaves could eliminate flexibility needed to pursue a more fitting co-star, ideally a center, for Doncic. Even if the Lakers can afford Reaves numerically, they may not want to afford him strategically.
In that scenario, Reaves becomes less of a foundational piece and more of a valuable asset whose peak value may be right now.
Why a trade may be the cleanest outcome
This is not about disrespecting Reaves. He has been instrumental in the Lakers’ success and remains one of their most trusted players. But roster construction is about timing as much as talent.
If the Lakers believe their next chapter is built around Doncic and another more fitting elite star, locking in Reaves at a max level could restrict their ability to execute that plan. Trading him now would allow Los Angeles to extract value rather than face a binary decision later.
Kevin O’Connor’s comment matters because it reframes the risk. Utah does not need the Lakers’ permission to reshape this situation. If the Jazz are willing to overpay, Los Angeles may have to act before free agency removes their options entirely.
The Lakers are not choosing between keeping or losing Reaves. They are choosing between controlling the outcome or reacting to it.