On June 26, news emerged that with JJ Redick taking over as the new head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, the team’s next priority would likely be addressing LeBron James’ contract situation.
If LeBron James decides to opt out of his current deal and enter free agency this summer, the Lakers will need to convince him to stay put.
According to renowned sports journalist Dave McMenamin, the Lakers are “committed to re-signing James” and are prepared to offer him a max contract extension spanning three years.
James has a player option worth $51.4 million for next season, which he must exercise or decline by June 29.
Per Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times, it is expected that James will opt out but “feels” he will remain with the Lakers.
As reported by journalist Bobby Marks, should James decline his option, he would be eligible for a three-year deal worth up to $162 million, keeping him under contract through the 2026-27 season. This would have James playing until he’s 42 years old.
In recent times, James has openly discussed retirement but hasn’t set a specific timeline.
Reflecting on how long he expects to play in the NBA, LeBron James said, “Not too much longer… I won’t play 21 years, for sure. But not too much longer. I don’t know when that door will close, when I’ll retire, but I know my time is running out.”
If James signs a max extension, it could pose financial challenges for the Lakers in upgrading their roster this offseason.
As per Marks, if the Lakers retain their first-round pick, re-sign Max Christie, and Russell declines his $18.7 million player option, they would likely be “on the doorstep” of the luxury tax. However, they could have a $12.9 million non-taxpayer mid-level exception available if Russell signs elsewhere.
Journalist Adam Wells analyzed that with the transition from Darvin Ham to Redick as head coach, the Lakers will seek more consistent regular-season performances to avoid another play-in tournament appearance, like in the past two seasons. Offering a three-year contract to a player of James’s age aligns with this objective.
Last season, James demonstrated he remains an elite player, averaging 25.7 points, 8.3 assists, and 7.3 rebounds while shooting 54.0% from the field.
Lakers Plan Revealed: Offering LeBron James a Three-Year, $97 Million Deal to Avoid Play-In Tournament. Author：Sports UEFA.Please indicate the source when reproduced：https://www.sportsuefa.com/basketball-headlines/lakers-plan-revealed-offering-lebron-james-a-three-year-97-million-deal-to-avoid-play-in-tournament.html
