Surprising Team Linked to Austin Reaves Pursuit This Summer

LA Lakers star Austin Reaves will 100% decline his $15M player option for next season and become a free agent this summer. Earlier in the season, he turned down an $89 million extension. Not surprising, considering he will soon be eligible for a massive 5-year, $241 million max contract extension with the Lakers.

But as a free agent, Reaves will be courted by a number of teams around the NBA. He's exploded into a superstar this season, averaging 23.5 points per game, while maintaining his strong rebounding and assist numbers (4.7 boards, 5.4 assists) and continuing to shoot over 37% from three-point range.

Which teams will be making a run at him? Bleacher Report's Eric Pincus reports that the aggressive Utah Jazz will be going after him, to add to their deadline blockbuster acquisition of elite defensive big man Jaren Jackson Jr.

The Utah Jazz are reportedly showing interest in Lakers guard Austin Reaves ahead of the offseason, per @EricPincus

“I’ve heard that the Utah Jazz like Austin Reaves. I don’t think that’s a shock, but I’ve heard that that’s one of the teams that’s interested in Austin Reaves,” pic.twitter.com/hXhhiXrmHd
— NBA Base (@TheNBABase) March 10, 2026

“I’ve heard that the Utah Jazz like Austin Reaves. I don’t think that’s a shock, but I’ve heard that that’s one of the teams that’s interested in Austin Reaves,” writes Pincus.

While Cody Williams has been doing fine in his time as a starter at shooting guard, his 6.2 points per game on the season pales in comparison to Reaves', and the Lakers star, in addition to Jackson Jr., Lauri Markkanen and Walker Kessler, along with last year's 5th overall pick Ace Bailey, would make the Jazz a legit contender next season in the West.

But prying him away from the Lakers and that potential $241M max deal will not be an easy task.