The Los Angeles Lakers have secured Austin Reaves with a four-year, $185 million maximum extension, keeping one of their top young stars in place. The move strengthens the franchise’s long-term core alongside Luka Doncic. However, ESPN’s Vincent Goodwill believes the next priority is building a roster that fits Doncic’s strengths.
Speaking on First Take, Goodwill dismissed concerns that Reaves’ NBA contract limits the Lakers’ flexibility.
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“The money that Austin Reaves is going to get has no effect on the Lakers’ practical cap space,” Goodwill said.
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Goodwill explained that Los Angeles still has room to address other priorities.
“People look at the numbers and think, ‘Oh, Austin Reaves is getting $40 million a year. That means there’s less money for LeBron.’ Not exactly,” Goodwill said. “What happens is the Lakers have so much money to play with to get LeBron on the books if they want him back, if LeBron wants to be back, and also to fulfill all these other checkpoints that they have to.”
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Goodwill then pointed to the main priority, “You have to get wing help. You have to get athletic bigs. You have to start building this team around Luka Doncic.”
Reaves earned his new deal after a breakout season. The undrafted guard averaged 23.3 points, 5.5 assists and 4.7 rebounds while helping the Lakers finish 53-29. Los Angeles reached the Western Conference semifinals before falling to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Doncic remained the franchise centerpiece. The superstar averaged 33.5 points, 8.3 assists and 7.7 rebounds after signing a three-year, $165 million extension in 2025. His elite production gives the Lakers a championship foundation, but roster balance remains the bigger challenge.
Goodwill believes LeBron James is still an important part of that equation.
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“The next order of business being LeBron is, does LeBron want to be there? Do the Lakers want him there?” Goodwill said.
Goodwill added that the answer likely favors a reunion but stressed that the organization cannot lose sight of its long-term direction. He questioned, “Can you fulfill all these things around Luka Dončić? He needs help.”
He also pointed to the defensive concerns surrounding the current backcourt.
“Even bringing Austin Reaves back in, you need defense because neither one of these guys is going to stop anybody,” Goodwill said.
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That assessment reflects the Lakers’ biggest challenge. Reaves and Doncic can power one of the league’s best offenses, but championship teams require balance. General manager Rob Pelinka must add athletic wings, defensive size, and reliable rim protection to maximize Doncic’s prime.
Re-signing Reaves was an important first step, but constructing a complete roster around the Slovenian star will ultimately determine whether the Lakers can return to the NBA Finals.
