Lakers superstar forward LeBron James is expected to decline his $51.4MM player option for 2024/25 to become an unrestricted free agent, according to Dan Woike of The Los Angeles Times. The four-time MVP faces a June 29 deadline to finalize that decision.
Woike’s report isn’t surprising. Rich Paul of Klutch Sports, James’ agent, referred to his longtime friend and client as an impending free agent during a TNT Sports altcast at the end of last month before attempting to walk back the comment. Opting out would give James, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, the opportunity to negotiate a full no-trade clause if he re-signs with with the Lakers. A return to L.A. is widely viewed as the likely outcome.
Due to the Over-38 rule, James will be limited to a three-year contract, though the 39-year-old is reportedly may not be looking to play for more than a couple more seasons.
In his 21st season in ’23/24, James averaged 25.7 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 8.3 APG and 1.3 SPG on .540/.410/.750 shooting across 71 regular season contests (35.3 MPG). He averaged 27.8 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 8.8 APG, 2.4 SPG and 1.0 BPG on .566/.385/.739 shooting in the Lakers’ first-round playoff loss to Denver.
James extended his own NBA record last season by making his 20th All-NBA team, all of which have come consecutively. Kobe Bryant, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Tim Duncan are all tied in second place with 15 total nods each. James also made his 20th straight All-Star appearance in ’23/24.
Woike’s story is largely focused on the Lakers’ decision to hire J.J. Redick as their new head coach. Woike confirms the Lakers were genuinely interested and optimistic about their pursuit of UConn’s Dan Hurley, who ultimately spurned L.A. to stay with the Huskies. According to Woike, one person in a “prominent” role with the Lakers said they had “never been more shocked” in their life when they learned of the team’s secretive pursuit of Hurley.
Lakers are shocked Hurley turned them down? I was shocked they didn’t offer him $90 mil or whatever it took to get him. The Lakers are not the Lakers anymore, nobody is scared of the gold jersey with or without lebron. By the way, Rich Paul is a scum bag.
It doesn’t say they were shocked he turned it down. Read it again Bozo.
No trade clause and max lmfao, doomed. There’s always the rigged season tournament though. Please add Harden to this circus. Man lakers stink LOL.
LeBron James has had such an amazing career and overall run! I think the most interesting thing is how long he wants to play. Do he want to play one two or three more years? Something tells me he might do two years at a max deal with a full no trade clause. That will give him 23 years in the NBA. I would love to see him win one more NBA championship and get to 5 NBA championships.
LeBron needs to recruit top 20 free agents right away or star players who want out.
Recruit but not tamper.
The key to success is to recruit
Lebron needs to take bronny and head east. The Lakers are irrelevant.
He really should consider it. He would fit well with Embiid and Maxey.
And Klay… if they had money for all that
Lebron to GSW with PG13 following him, both taking smaller 1 year deals to win a title, GSW have a pick that they could use on Bronny, lets go!!!
(im joking, BUT this is possible if GSW trades Wiggins, CP3 and GP2)
lakers would never go for that letting Lebron go to a rival.
Not really up to them if he’s an unrestricted free agent
Warriors can’t sign Lebron unless he takes a huge pay cut to ONLY $12 million a year and we all know that is not happening.
What if its a 1 year $12 mill deal and it pairs him with Bronny and Steph, who despite everyone hating him is still an elite, top 10 guy in this league? I can see Lebron ring chasing now, doing 1 year deals with GSW and eventually the Knicks and Bulls and Spurs…
Is there any other team that can a) draft Bronny and b) contend for the title next year? Name them please, I’m curious because I cant really come up with one. If Lebron decides to just do 1 year deals he might be able to swing something like this.
So now he is forcing Lakers to pick Bronny in the first round. Will the Lakers take the chance of not picking Bronny and him leaving? This will be a fun 2 weeks.
Bronny or no barring a major injury LeBron was always going to decline his option. Why would he pick it up? He now gets 2-3 years max guaranteed as opposed to 1.
I still saying he will force the Lakers in one way or another to pick Bronny. If another team takes Bronny will the Lakers trade something of value to get Bronny?
Opting out forces the Lakers to draft bronny huh?
Bronny will be a 1st round draft pick
“So now he is forcing Lakers to pick Bronny in the first round.”
Yeah. That’s exactly what’s happening. You sure nailed it.
wait and see where Bronny goes.
You wrote Lebron is “forcing the Lakers to pick Bronny in the first round”
That’s not happening.
They might pick him in the second round, and if they do, who cares?
I don’t feel like LeBron is trying to force the Lakers to draft Bronny. He’s opting out to get an additional year, and yeah, probably the NTC.
IF LeBron really wanted the Lakers to draft Bronny though, is it really that big of a deal? They’re picking 17th, in a weak class. They’re drafting what they hope will be a role player there, anyway. I’d just take Bronny. He could just as easily be a role player off the bench.
Weak class is a lazy narrative. There will likely be some very good players picked in this draft, and they may very well come outside of the lottery given the lack of sure-fire talent. Wasting the 17th pick would be stupid.
Reality is a “lazy narrative?”
Jim and Johnny buss were shocked because Jeanie doesn’t speak to them
Hypothetical situation. ‘Bron is playing against Bronny and Bronny has a one on one fast break. Does Bronny Poster Dad? Does Bron take a charge? Go for the block? Or lay out in a famous flop?
I predict a LeFlop
LBJ deciding to decline how predictable is that. It’s a lot of money to decline. Good luck getting more
You honestly don’t think he is going to get more than 51 million? Haha just wow. Also how would it be predictable if it would be tough to get that much on the market? You literally contradict yourself just trying to rip on Lebron. All you did was embarrass yourself.
They both just drop to the ground.
He’s won East and West. How about the North? Him and Bronny on the Raptors for one last hourah. The amount of media coverage he would get in Canada would be insane. Wishful thinking of course (Raps fan)
I’m thinking Lebron should ring chase and sign 1 year deals in this order with GSW, the Knicks, Celtics, Spurs and Bulls, just get all the “classic teams”. Obviously his role would probably diminish if he plays to age 45….
I swear I would pay to Not having him play with the celtics.
Bron on the celtics…NOPE SMH, never. Bron is always ring chasing but not with us. Bron is 100% not wanted in Boston. We will entertain the thought of Bronny sitting deep on the Red Claws bench if not compensated with two second round picks though.
Don’t hog that doobie
Hearing a lot of chatter about the Sixers… Maybe just smoke in mirrors.
Taking his talents to Orlando!
The problem for LA is that LeBron’s achievements going forward are going to be personal ones. He is still playing at a high level, but they need more than 2 inconsistent (…yes yes i know davis played a lot last season, but come on) superstars to make any noise in the west.
So Lakers will get a lot of clout and media attention but not team basketball success. Guess they can take lots of pictures with him and his kid and breaking whatever other records he can.
Bronny doesn’t fall past Knicks at 38
Lebron signs with NY
Knicks win next 2 Championships
LMAO , never know ?
Bronny is going in the first round.
Don’t say he’s not good enough…
This draft is bad enough.
Imagine….
coach Brown over in Sacramento really wants to bring in his man Draymond Green to help improve the defence. Harrison Barnes is on the outer, and GSW say they’ll take Vezkenov aswell.
Then somehow you convince Toronto into a three team deal. Dallas get Wiggins, you get Bruce Brown and Toronto gets THJ, Moses Moody and bits.
All of a sudden you look at the books with Klay (43) and CP3 (31) gone you’ve actually cleared a bunch of cap space. Maybe if you salary dump GP2 you could try get LeBron. He’s always said he wanted to play with Curry, he wants to stay out West, we can say we will draft Bronny in the second round if we get the chance. Gives our boy Curry a final chance at a title and long term wise who cares in a couple years both Curry and Bron will be off the books and we still have Podzi and Kuminga.
Curry Podzi Bron Kuminga Theis*
SethCurry* Brown Hayward* Barnes Looney
Bronny Damiom Lee* Vezenkov TJD
*FA signing
That would be insane to see. The shooting of Curry with LeBrons all round game. The young legs of Podzi and Kuminga both fit excellently. Then you go for the classic GSW bruising centre in Theis. You fill out with Seth coming to play with his brother and Damion opting out and also coming to be with his family. Can’t complain about a lack of depth Bruce Brown, Harrison Barnes and Kevon Looney would be great off the bench. You’ve also got Vezenkov and TJD.
Imagine Bron and Curry both moving up to 5 rings each together, it would bring in plenty of eyes and ears to the league bringing in huge money.
Draymond on the Kings and that rivalry would be a great watch. Klay going off to Orlando or something would be very Klay like. CP3 suorising maybe he goes to the Lakers finally and plays for his old mate JJ? Good way for him to finish off. Barnes returning back would be a good story line.
It would be insane
Signs with Sixers. They then trade first round pick for Zion. LBJ,Embiid, and Zion alternate games off while Maxey plays 40 minutes every game until his legs fall off. Doc would be proud.