LeBron James intends to opt out of Lakers deal, expected to return on new contract: Sources

By Shams Charania, Sam Amick and Jenna West

Los Angeles Lakers four-time champion LeBron James intends to opt out of his $51.4 million player option for next season, league sources told The Athletic on Saturday. The expectation is James will return to the Lakers on a new deal, which would set him up to play alongside his 19-year-old son Bronny for the first few years of his career.

Just In: Los Angeles Lakers four-time champion LeBron James intends to opt out of his $51.4 million player option for next season, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. The expectation is James will return to the Lakers on a new deal. pic.twitter.com/wQAbSAwCQD

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 29, 2024

As James’ deadline to opt out neared, league sources said the Lakers were not given any indication behind the scenes regarding what James would likely do. Meanwhile, as The Athletic reported Tuesday, there were strong indications that James and co-star Anthony Davis were hoping the franchise would pull off the sort of all-in trade during draft week that would bolster the roster after last season’s disappointing finish.

That didn’t happen, though, as the Lakers selected Tennessee’s Dalton Knecht with their No. 17 pick and Bronny out of USC at No. 55. The question now, with James’ return appearing imminent, is whether there might be other trade opportunities this offseason.

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While the Lakers were known to have some interest in Dejounte Murray, he was traded to New Orleans on Friday. As had been the case when the Lakers pursued Murray near the February trade deadline, league sources said they didn’t want to give up 26-year-old guard Austin Reaves in a Murray deal and were therefore out of the running for his services.

Even with James’ apparent return, the pressure to improve the team will most certainly remain, in large part, because he is expected to have several seasons left in his legendary career.

The max the Lakers could offer James as a free agent is three years and $160 million based on current cap guidance. The other option to guarantee James’ return to the Lakers would have been for him to opt into his $51.4 million deal for next season and then sign an extension in late August.

The former option of opting out can come with a no-trade clause, which would guarantee James either stays a Laker (and presumably retires one) or controls his next destination.

James, who turns 40 on Dec. 30, had until 5 p.m. ET Saturday to decide whether to opt into his player option for 2024-25.

Due to an NBA salary-cap quirk known as the “over-38 rule,” Los Angeles is unable to offer James a contract for more than three years. The Lakers went 47-35 last season before being knocked out of the playoffs in the first round. The team has Davis locked into a contract through 2026-27, with a player option for 2027-28.

The Athletic previously reported the Lakers wanted James to return, were open to offering him a maximum extension and were willing to draft Bronny this year.

LeBron has long expressed a desire to play with Bronny in the pros, famously telling The Athletic in 2022: “My last year (in the NBA) will be played with my son.” The superstar forward modified that sentiment in 2023, telling ESPN his goal would also be realized playing with Bronny “either in the same uniform or (in) a matchup against him.”

In his six years as a Laker, James has averaged 27.0 points per game in the regular season and accumulated 9,436 of his more than NBA-record 40,474 career regular-season points. In his four postseason trips with Los Angeles, he’s averaged 26.1 points per game and helped lead the Lakers to an NBA title in 2020.

James is a 20-time All-Star, a four-time MVP and a four-time Finals MVP. Assuming he remains with the Lakers, 2024-25 will mark his seventh year with the franchise, which will match his first seven years with the Cleveland Cavaliers for the longest consecutive stretch with any team during his career.

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(Photo: Ronald Martinez / Getty Images)