LeBron James‘s decision on his $51.4MM player option is due this Saturday, and while the Lakers star has yet to formally make a call one way or the other on that option, at least one recent report indicated he’s leaning toward opting out. That doesn’t mean he’ll leave Los Angeles though, since the Lakers will still be in position to offer him more than any other suitor as a free agent — and it sounds like they’ll do just that.
According to Dave McMenamin of ESPN, the Lakers are “committed” to retaining James and are prepared to offer the maximum three-year contract that he’s eligible for. Teams can typically re-sign their own Bird free agents for up to five years, but in LeBron’s case, the over-38 rule would trigger if he signs for four or more years, meaning a three-year agreement is his max.
A maximum-salary three-year contract for James projects to be worth nearly $162MM if he declines his option. In that scenario, he would also be in position to negotiate a no-trade clause, which is available to players who are negotiating free agent contracts if they’ve been in the NBA for eight years and with the team for four years.
Here are a few more free agency rumors and notes from around the NBA:
- The Clippers have “some level of interest” in free agent forward Tobias Harris, a source tells Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer. Harris, who played for the Clippers for about a year from 2018-19, would likely only be an option for Los Angeles if Paul George leaves, since the team otherwise wouldn’t be in position to make him a competitive offer (and wouldn’t have a pressing on-court need for a forward like Harris). Pompey suggests the possibility of a dual sign-and-trade involving George and Harris, but the Sixers have the cap room to sign George outright and the Clippers would be hard-capped at the first tax apron if they acquire a player via sign-and-trade.
- While the Suns‘ top offseason priority is re-signing forward Royce O’Neale, they’re also hoping that swingman Josh Okogie picks up his $2.96MM player option and would like to re-sign forward Bol Bol, tweets John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7.
- Speaking to reporters on Monday, Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. reiterated that the team wants to bring back free agent sharpshooter Klay Thompson (Twitter video link via NBC Sports Bay Area). However, as Tim Kawakami writes for The Athletic, Dunleavy is “definitely not shaping this whole offseason” around re-signing Thompson.
- John Hollinger of The Athletic shared his list of the best point guards on this year’s free agent market, along with his top shooting guards.
That’s a lot of money for LBJ to leave on the table. I don’t know what his motivation is if he’s looking for a long-term deal with the LA or not. LBJ has never put a team first. How about taking a league minimum deal and allow your team to build a better team. If getting 7 rings is what you want. You’re no MJ or Kobe but you do belong in talks to be the best ever
There are many examples of Hall-of-Fame players who took less than the max so the team could sign higher-calibre role players. Tim Duncan and Tom Brady come to mind. If LeBron really wants to compete for – and win- a championship, he needs to do the same. Will he?? We’re about to find out.
LeBrons career earnings matter to him. Especially with the raises everyone is getting. He won’t take a deal because earning the most money in a career would be on his list of goals.
Im pretty sure LeBron has already done this like a decade & a half ago when he helped form the big3 in Miami by taking less than the max along with DWade. That’s probably the most famous instance of this happening. The latest would obv be James Harden leaving tens of millions on the table to help the 76ers round out their roster with high level role players. The fact that those guys get zero credit for leaving all that $ on the table is a pretty unmistakable signal to guys now & in the future to ignore what weirdo fans think/exploitative teams want & focus on what’s best for them & their fam.
Bron never has. He wants to own a team. And makes every dollar he can. He knows he plays for billionaires. So he doesn’t care about their expenses.
He did take less when he went to Heat. But he was team building then. Not sure he can now.
He’s opting out of $51mil but for all “intents & purpleness” he’d basically just be doing a two-year extension for $56 per year, right?
LeBron opting out is just to force the Lakers to pick his son Bronny. Once Bronny is a Laker he will resign on a 2 year deal.
Lebron>Kobe and its not even a discussion. The end of Kobe’s career he was a low percentage volume shooting scorer and that’s it. If you want to say he is top 10 all time I wouldn’t agree but I would not bother to argue, but he isn’t close to best ever.
Agreed. The entire argument for Kobe as best ever is entirely narrative with zero facts to it. The entire end of his career was marred heavily by injuries and poor play, and while he was a fantastic player overall, he wasn’t close to Bird, LeBron, Kareem, and especially not Jordan. His peak was shorter than all of them but Bird and lower than all four. And there are certainly others I’d put in front of him all time as well.
Kobe’s last two years in the league, when he was clearly a shell of his pre-injury self, were the only ones where he took any kind of pay cut. And it wasn’t much of one, certainly not intended for the Lakers to return to competing when they were so terrible.
Bringing up Kobe while saying Bron needs to take less money is hilarious. You are so unaware.
Funny you should say that. Over the course of his career there’s only one season where he was highest paid player in the league.
Yeah, he’s made more money than anyone else over the span of his career but much like the all time scoring record that’s a product of his longevity and sustained excellence.
As Sankara pointed out LeBron took less money than he could’ve gotten from Cleveland when he went to Miami and Wade, Bosh and James all took less than the max.
When he left Miami he signed into Cleveland’s cap space. If he’d stayed in Miami they could’ve offered him more. When he left Cleveland the second time it was the same thing, he took less salary than the Cavs could’ve offered him. Moneys always been a priority for LeBron but it seems that being in a situation where he could win meant more.
The best thing the Lakers could do is walk away from LeClown
@AK. I believe Dirk did the same thing. I honestly don’t think those players exist anymore. I’m sure Doncic will want top dollar too. Some players I wouldn’t say are selfish but look at Tatum now. He’s expecting the max as well. I heard rumors that Brunson will be taking a lesser value contract next. Now that’s a player for kids to look up too. I hope that’s true.
LBJ isn’t leaving. Too much ham in him to leave the glitz of L.A.
The best thing for lebron is to take bronny and head east. Philly preferably. Unfair to the rest of the east, yes.
I don’t care about Lakers. So take all their money Bron …… never winning a chip again.