“I didn’t like it,” Reaves told The Athletic. “It was weird. It just was, I mean, it’s just a lot of ‘What ifs.’ I just like to know where I’m going to be.”

So, when he got word on the golf course Tuesday afternoon that the Lakers had increased their contract offer to four years and $185 million, the 28-year-old Reaves, who entered the NBA as an undrafted free agent in 2021, sprawled out on a patch of grass at Batesville, Ark., with a mixture of happiness and relief.

His girlfriend, Jenna Barber, shared the image of Reaves sprawled out on her Instagram page Wednesday.

nytimes.com/athletic/7391746/2026/06/24/austin-reaves-lakers-contract-nba-free-agency

“I mean, it was a breath of fresh air because I hadn’t stopped thinking about where I was going to be.

And it’s just like a sigh of relief,” he said in a phone interview Wednesday. “I mean, regardless of whatever played out, I’m obviously grateful and in a good position to take care of the people I love. My heart’s been in L.A.

Every morning I wake up, I’m just like, ‘I hope we can get this done today.’

“And even if I was frustrated through the process when we (weren’t) getting the numbers we wanted, the next morning I woke up, it was still the same thing: ‘

Hopefully we can get this done today.’

"Tuesday turned out to be that day, with Reaves agreeing to return to the Lakers, who held off a list of clubs headlined by the Detroit Pistons and Brooklyn Nets who were expected to make max offers.

The Pistons had emerged as the most significant threat to land Reaves over the past week, per league sources granted anonymity to discuss potential plans."

"Nevertheless, Reaves said his conversations with agents Aaron Reilly and Reggie Berry hadn’t made him optimistic for a deal to stay in Los Angeles.

There were times when he thought he could be playing elsewhere, even as recently as this week.

“A couple of times actually,” Reaves said. “I didn’t know how negotiations would go.

I don’t think Aaron and Reggie really knew how negotiations would go, so we learned a lot throughout the process.

But like I said, we wanted to be in L.A., my heart was in L.A., and we got it done.”

“It’s going to be fun. And like I said, winning a championship is the main goal,” Reaves said.

“And I feel like, you know, with me and Luka, that’s a great starting piece to compete.

And when we put a roster together that can go compete, I feel like winning a championship will basically solidify everything that I want and everything that the Lakers want.

“And it kind of meets the common goal of why they gave me the money they did.”

Trevon Brazile is gone

Have a feeling Lakers were maybe trying to get him

That would have been good. He’s going be a solid nba big. I think he’s ready to play off the bench as a rookie. Hoping we can get one of these next picks

I feel like we could get a center or PG. not another 2 guard. We just drafted one

i completely forgot about Veesar

What about Nate Bittle

Just sitting back waiting for the Ayton resigning

nah we need to load up on 3&D guys for the cheap tbh

unless Rafael Castro or Okpara goes undrafted, I don't see a center that's worth it

Okpara is gone

beef stu is gone

Good lol

grizzlies are cooking

amazing asset management

actually Onyenso is still on the board

Him and Castro are the only centers that I would consider using a two way on

did u want him ?

Damn

nah undersized and very limited offensively, would've taken him as a regular szn backup though for 9-10 mins a night

Ugonna Onyenso is gone

Lakers didn't get the guy they wanted so they just said f*** it

get Aaron Nkrumah, Rafael Castro, or Nate Johnson on a two way or exhibit 10 deal please