{"id":185010,"date":"2026-03-31T14:43:27","date_gmt":"2026-03-31T18:43:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=185010"},"modified":"2026-03-31T14:43:27","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T18:43:27","slug":"lakers-interested-re-signing-4-key-players-this-summer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2026\/03\/31\/lakers-interested-re-signing-4-key-players-this-summer\/","title":{"rendered":"Lakers Interested in Re-Signing 4 Key Players This Summer"},"content":{"rendered":"

As the <\/span>Lakers look to clinch a playoff spot<\/span><\/a> tonight against the Cleveland Cavaliers, rumors are swirling over what the future holds for their pending free agents. While hardly anyone can predict what <\/span>LeBron James<\/span><\/a> will do this summer, the Lakers reportedly hope to bring back other core players who’ve been instrumental to their success this season.<\/span><\/p>\n

Lakers Interested in Re-Signing 4 Key Players This Summer<\/h2>\n

According to <\/span>ESPN\u2019s Dave McMenamin and Tim Bontemps<\/span><\/a>, the Lakers want to re-sign <\/span>Austin Reaves<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Jaxson Hayes<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Luke Kennard<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>Rui Hachimura<\/span><\/a> in free agency, keeping a group that\u2019s propelled LA to a 49-26 record and a potential top-three finish in the West. The two added that the Lakers \u201cwill have close to $50 million in projected cap space this summer\u201d if <\/span>Deandre Ayton<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>Marcus Smart<\/span><\/a> pick up their respective player options, with James and Hachimura\u2019s salaries coming off the books.<\/span><\/p>\n

Regardless of what happens in this year\u2019s postseason, the four standouts have ironclad cases to come back in free agency.<\/span><\/p>\n

Austin Reaves<\/h3>\n

Widely considered the perfect backcourt partner for <\/span>Luka Doncic<\/span><\/a>, Reaves\u2019 next contract with LA seems more like a \u201cwhen, not if\u201d at this point. Despite being sidelined with multiple calf strains this season, Reaves has continued to put up star-level numbers in his fifth year. In 49 games (43 starts), he has averaged 23.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 1.1 steals, all on 49% shooting from the field and 36% from deep. The fan-favorite who has <\/span>desired to be a \u201cLaker for life\u201d<\/span><\/a> may keep that dream alive this summer, when he\u2019s eligible for a five-year max contract worth up to $241 million.<\/span><\/p>\n

Reaves\u2019 journey with the Lakers has come straight out of Hollywood, and it\u2019s only right that LA renews it for another five seasons at least.<\/span><\/p>\n

Luke Kennard<\/h3>\n

<\/smartframe-embed><\/p>\n

He\u2019s only been a Laker for less than two months, and he already <\/span>leads the team in made threes off the bench<\/span><\/a>. Luke Kennard has ignited the Lakers\u2019 offense since his arrival, and his 19-point outing against the Wizards on Monday further underscored his impact. In 25 games with LA, Kennard has averaged 8.7 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.6 assists while shooting 49.1% from deep. After a history of acquiring shooters who couldn\u2019t throw a pea in the ocean with the purple and gold, <\/span>Kennard<\/span><\/a> has broken that curse and become an integral member of the second unit.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Luke Kennard vs Wizards:
| 19 PTS 2 REB 1 AST 1 STL 7\/10 FG 4\/5 3PT 1\/1 FT | pic.twitter.com\/6dJwCmQB2C<\/a><\/p>\n

— Laker Performances (@LALPerformance) March 31, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n