NBA Contract Year All-Stars: Reaves, Lakers lead our 12-man lineup - ESPN

The 2025-26 season is just three weeks old, and there are more than six months until the start of free agency. But the small body of work on the court should not dissuade us from identifying 12 potential free agents who have stood out and what their future could hold with their respective teams.

There are criteria to how we selected our lineup of contract-year All-Stars:

First, we have disqualified players who have previously made an All-NBA or All-Star team. That means you won't see potential summer free agents such as Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vucevic, LA Clippers guard James Harden, Sacramento Kings guard Zach LaVine, Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young — or even Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James — on this list.

Second, players with team options in their current contracts, such as the Oklahoma City Thunder guard Lu Dort and center Isaiah Hartenstein are also not considered. After all, if a player is outplaying their deal, it is highly unlikely their teams will decline the options.

And while LeBron doesn't make our roster, the Lakers are well represented. Let's start there, as one player is making waves as a second option in James' absence and setting himself up for a major payday in 2026 free agency.

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Starters | Reserves

2025-26: 31.1 PPG (48.9 FG%), 9.3 APG, 37.8 MPG
Contract status: 2026 player option ($14.9 million)

To say that Reaves has taken advantage of early season injuries to Luka Doncic and James has been an understatement.

Reaves has seen his points per game increase from 20.2 points last season to a career-high 31.1. He currently ranks sixth among all players in points per game, behind Doncic, Tyrese Maxey, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Donovan Mitchell. Reaves became the