After eking out a win against the Jazz in Salt Lake City, the Lakers hope to find some rhythm. Their four-game road trip continues Monday against the Timberwolves, and honestly, consistency has been a struggle. At this point in the season, they need to string together solid performances—not just flashes of brilliance. But one of their stars might not show off his brilliance against the Timberwolves.

Austin Reaves took a brutal fall during Sunday’s game against the Jazz, leaving him sprawled on the court for a moment. Teammates helped him to the locker room, but in true warrior fashion, he returned to action in the third quarter. Reaves logged 29 minutes, even sticking around for the game’s closing moments, despite the obvious pain.

Now, the Lakers (12-8) have ruled him out for a second straight game due to a pelvis contusion. JJ Redick has said he is day-to-day. It’s the right call—better to play it safe now than risk making things worse. After all, the season’s far from over, and they’ll need him back at full strength.

Austin Reaves has started in 19 games for the Lakers, putting up solid numbers with 16.7 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists. However, his three-point shooting has been shaky lately, with the 26-year-old guard hitting just 35.5% from deep over the past games. You can tell he’s been fighting for consistency from beyond the arc. Still, despite those struggles, he’s been contributing in other ways.

What is the future of Austin Reaves with the Lakers?

Austin Reaves has quickly become one of the most promising players for the Los Angeles Lakers, but his future with the team is uncertain. Lakers insider Jovan Buha shared his thoughts, adding, “I would say it’s close to 50-50. I would lean probably 55 percent not because he can opt out after next season and I think he’s going to have a competitive market.”

The Lakers may face some tough decisions with LeBron James’ future up in the air. Buha explained, “We were talking about the Lakers potentially going in a different direction or having some difficult decisions to make if LeBron retires. So, if LeBron retires all of a sudden, you have to decide what you want to do with AD. How you’re going to find that star to play with him?”

Buha also pointed out Reaves could get a much bigger offer, saying, “I could see Austin potentially getting a bigger offer to go somewhere else and I can see him getting like a three, 75 something like that deal to go be like the No. 3 somewhere else.”

His solid all-around game makes him an attractive target for other teams. While the Lakers would love to keep him, Buha noted, “The Lakers are obviously high on him, they have refused to trade him basically, and I think they’re going to want to keep him. He’s a fan favorite.”

Reaves signed a four-year, $53.8 million extension in 2023, which includes a player option for 2026-27. But, as his value rises, the Lakers may have to dish out a much bigger contract to retain him long-term. For now, his future with the team remains uncertain.