The Los Angeles Lakers can’t talk about the offseason yet, but once they get there, there’s one major storyline to follow regarding their biggest star, LeBron James.
The four-time league Most Valuable Player can become a free agent as early as the summer of 2024 if he decides to opt out of his contract with the Lakers. The future Hall of Famer has a player option worth $51.415 million in the 2024-25 NBA season, though, he still has to decide on it.
Will LeBron James Opt Out of His Los Angeles Lakers Contract?
There is no certain answer to what exactly LeBron will do in the summer, but if you ask ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, the four-time NBA champion, he believes The King will opt out (h/t Lakers Daily).
“I think LeBron’s gonna opt out no matter what,” Windhorst said. “And the reason I think he’s gonna opt out no matter what is even if he just signs back for one year, the only functional way for LeBron to get a no-trade clause is to sign a new contract. If he extends the contract he’s in or picks up that option, extends onto it, he can’t get a no-trade clause. And I think for a number of different reasons, LeBron would like, ask for and probably be granted a no-trade clause.”
But even if LeBron follows that route, opting will not automatically mean that he’s going somewhere else to play, as Windhorst pointed out. It could just be a move LeBron makes in order to secure a newer deal with the Lakers that has a no-trade clause in it.
But for now, the real focus for LeBron is to help the Lakers secure a playoff spot and win an NBA title.
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