With the Los Angeles Lakers confirmed to be eliminated from the playoffs, LeBron James reportedly intends to become a free agent next season and will begin receiving offers from other teams.
According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, James will not pick up the Lakers’ $51.4 million player option for the 2024-25 season.
“I think LeBron is going to opt out of his contract and become a free agent for the first time since 2018,” Windhorst said Tuesday. “I think that’s going to put a little bit of pressure on the Lakers.”
“I think LeBron is going to opt out of his contract and become a free agent for the first time since 2018.”
ὄ @WindhorstESPN pic.twitter.com/4LkT1tMFmW
— GetUp (@GetUpESPN) April 30, 2024
However, despite the reports, James refused to add fuel to the fire after the Lakers’ 108-106 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Monday. When asked what the future holds, he flatly replied, “Well, I’m not going to answer that.”
But Windhorst did explain why James would not comment.
“I think he wants to see what the Lakers do in terms of the draft,” Windhorst explained. “They potentially have three first-round picks that they can trade, and they also have some contracts that they can package to upgrade their team. They could make a big upgrade to this team at the trade deadline.” You remember we didn’t add anything. I think LeBron hasn’t forgotten that and he likes to put pressure on them.”
Another consideration is son Bronny, who is likely preparing for the NBA draft. James has said that he really wants to play on the same team as his son, but if he chooses to join the Lakers too soon, Bronny could be traded to another team, and LeBron has the Lakers’ He will have no choice but to jump ship and ask for a play. Place next to his son.
No. 6 Bronny James of the USC Trojans greets his father, LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers, before the game against the Stanford Cardinal at Galen Center on January 6, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)
Bronny will probably take some time to find out where he ends up if he waits to make a decision on whether to play for the Lakers or become a free agent.
Windhorst added that the Lakers will have some chances to draft Bronny.
Finally, another attractive reason to become a free agent is the possibility of a bigger contract. If he chooses to sign with the Lakers, only a one-year contract and $51 million are guaranteed. But if he becomes a free agent, he could earn even more money as other teams compete to sign him.
“He could potentially get a multi-year contract and there is no no-trade clause in his contract,” Windhorst noted. “There’s only one in the NBA, and that’s Bradley Beal’s. I wouldn’t be surprised if he wanted to keep that locked up as well. While we wait to see what the Lakers do as a team. So I think we’re going to see some silence from LeBron between now and the end of June.”
James already has a history of making the jump as a free agent. He abandoned the Cavaliers in 2010, left the Heat for the Cavaliers in 2014, and abandoned the Cavaliers for the Lakers in 2018.
Follow Warner Todd Huston on Facebook: facebook.com/Warner.Todd.Hustonor truth social @WarnerToddHuston
