Lakers famous person LeBron James is opting out of his $51.4M participant choice for the 2024-25 season, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania. The expectation is James will return to the Lakers on a brand new deal, Charania stories.
This was the anticipated transfer, as we’ve written. As cap professional Yossi Gozlan observes, James can re-sign with the Lakers for a most of three years, $162M, which might take him by his age-42 season. The Lakers can be a primary apron staff in the event that they introduced him again. Moreover, he’s eligible for a no-trade clause.
The Lakers chosen LeBron’s son, Bronny James, with the No. 55 total choose within the 2024 draft on Thursday. Re-signing with the Lakers would enable for LeBron to play subsequent to his son, one thing he’s expressed curiosity in doing up to now.
LeBron’s maintained a excessive degree of play even by his age-39 season, averaging 25.7 factors, 7.3 rebounds and eight.3 assists whereas capturing 54.0% from the sector and 41.0% from three by 71 video games final season. His 71 video games performed final 12 months have been his most since 2017-18 with Cleveland, and LeBron helped push the Lakers to the playoffs, the place they fell in 5 video games to the Nuggets.
Whereas the Lakers misplaced within the first spherical, they have been aggressive towards the reigning champs, dropping by a mixed 11 factors. With new coach J.J. Redick on board, Los Angeles appears poised to construct on its core heading into subsequent 12 months.
LeBron’s spent the final six seasons of his profession with Los Angeles, successful a hoop in 2019-20 and passing a number of milestones whereas donning the purple-and-gold, together with changing into the NBA’s all-time chief in factors scored.