Be prepared for plenty of Austin Reaves-Utah Jazz rumors from now until the offseason. He has been discussed before, and the Jazz have more reasons to sign him than just for his talent. Another Reaves-Jazz rumor has popped up again recently, and it seems legitimate because the Jazz unfollowed the insider who revealed the latest on Reaves and the Jazz!
Yahoo Sports! Kevin O'Connor revealed on his podcast that the Jazz will pursue Reaves this offseason (not the first time he has gone on the record about this), putting it bluntly, "I think the Utah Jazz are going to be a team that have big interest in Austin Reaves this summer."
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Olay, so KOC didn't reveal anything Jazz fans didn't already know. However, the timing of this is pretty telling, as NBA Alerts revealed that the Jazz unfollowed him the day before he revealed this.
👀 Utah Jazz (utahjazz) is no longer following @KevinOConnor
— NBA Alerts (@theNBAalert) January 15, 2026
Does this mean the Jazz are getting Reaves? No, but it suggests they are not only serious about getting him but also want to keep their interest under wraps. No intel has confirmed this exact sentiment, but O'Connor reiterating this just after Utah decided not to follow him anymore feels like a pretty strong indication that the Jazz are going after him with everything they've got.
The odds of Reaves signing with Utah aren't strong
Utah will have the cap space to go make a legitimate pursuit at Reaves this summer. However, there have been no indications that Reaves wants to leave the Lakers. He's even gone out of his way to vocalize his loyalty to the team, and for good reason. They were the ones who gave him the platform to prove himself and have given him a bigger role with each passing season.
It's hard for a player to leave the team that put him in this position in the first place. At the same time, he should feel more than entitled to get the most money he can. Even if the Lakers gave him the role that he's thrived in, he's rewarded them enough that they should pay him what he wants. He's played well enough to earn himself more than a hometown discount.
It's a given that Utah will be at a disadvantage against Los Angeles from a market perspective. Arguing against that is downright laughable. However, even if Reaves may not be a Jazzman next season, they will force the Lakers hand with the money they have to offer.