Four-time NBA champion LeBron James is expected to opt out of the final year of his current contract, the Los Angeles Times reported Friday.
If he opts out, the Los Angeles Lakers forward will become an unrestricted free agent, but most NBA insiders believe James has no plans to leave the Lakers.
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said in May that if James does decide to opt out of his contract, any moves he makes will likely focus on the terms of his contract — if James wants to add a no-trade clause to his contract, that could be accomplished with a new deal.
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LeBron James of the Lakers during a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at Crypto.com Arena on April 1, 2022 in Los Angeles. (Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)
NBA rules prohibit adding a no-trade clause to an existing contract through a contract extension, and only 10 players in league history have been able to include a no-trade clause in their respective contracts.
James is expected to end up signing a three-year, $162 million deal, essentially giving up about $2.3 million total if he opts out of his player option rather than extending it, but he may think the financial sacrifice is worth it if he can acquire his no-trade clause.
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The longest James can sign is three years due to the NBA’s age-38 and older rules, and Lakers officials are reportedly open to granting James “any structure” he wants in a new deal.
Lakers forward LeBron James makes a gesture during a game against the Denver Nuggets on March 2, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
If James does indeed want to explore his options this offseason, the Philadelphia 76ers are one team his name has been mentioned in, and the 76ers would likely have enough salary-cap space to add James to their team.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James dribbles past Thunder forward Jalen Williams on Dec. 23, 2023 in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)
A move to Philadelphia would see James teamed up with star big man Joel Embiid and last season’s Most Improved Player, Tyrese Maxey.
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ESPN reported Thursday that the Lakers and JJ Redick have agreed to a four-year contract to become the team’s next head coach. James recently launched “Mind the Game,” a podcast co-hosted by Redick.
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