The Los Angeles Lakers have made their offseason intentions crystal clear: Austin Reaves is staying put. In a press conference on Tuesday, Lakers general manager and president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka confirmed that both sides are committed to reaching a deal as Reaves enters free agency.

"Both sides have made it abundantly clear that we want to work it out," Pelinka said.

After going undrafted out of Arkansas, Reaves has transformed into one of the league's most reliable guards—and he's about to be paid like it. Rival executives project the 27-year-old could land a contract worth between $239 and $241 million over five years, which would average roughly $40 million per season.

Reaves is coming off a career year as the Lakers' No. 2 option, averaging 23.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 1.1 steals per game while shooting 49 percent from the field and 36 percent from three-point range. Though he was limited to 51 games and showed some defensive vulnerabilities—especially against the Thunder—his scoring ability makes him one of the most sought-after guards on the market.

For a Lakers team looking to build around LeBron James and Anthony Davis, locking in a young, improving guard who can create his own shot is a no-brainer. Retaining Reaves isn't just a priority—it's the priority this summer in Los Angeles.