Nothing will ever top the Summer of LeBron, but teams may need to start mulling potential offers for the future Hall of Famer.
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, a trusted source on LeBron James, predicted that James will become a free agent this summer rather than opt into his $51.4 million Lakers player option for the 2024-25 season.
“I do think LeBron intends to opt out of his contract and become a free agent for the first time since 2018,” Windhorst said Tuesday on “Get Up.” “I think that will apply a little bit of pressure to the Lakers.”
James’ status has league-wide ramifications since he can change a franchise’s trajectory, and his future is now in the crosshairs with the Lakers’ season ending Monday night against the Nuggets.
The 39-year-old did not address his future after the Game 5 loss in Denver, instead saying: “Um, I’m not going to answer that.”
That answer leaves open plenty of interpretation, and Windhorst believes three reasons point to James opting to enter free agency rather than re-up with the Lakers.
The first centers on James wanting to see how the Lakers upgrade the roster after a disappointing season that opened with championship aspirations.
“I think he wants to see what the Lakers do around the draft,” Windhorst said. “They have potentially three first-round picks they can trade, a couple of contracts they can package with it to upgrade the team. You remember that they did no make any significant upgrades to this team at the trade deadline. LeBron did not forget that and I think he likes to have that pressure on them.”
The second involves his son Bronny, whom he has said he wants to play with.
By opting into his contract, James risks his son potentially being drafted by another franchise.
By waiting, James can see where his son lands and then proceed.
Bronny, a freshman at USC, has declared for the draft but maintained his college eligibility.
“As you may have heard, his son Bronny may be, and I expect to be, in this draft,” Windhorst said. “The Lakers, I think, will keep their draft pick, the New Orleans Pelicans have the option to take this year’s pick or defer to next year, I think the Pelicans will defer to next year. So, I think the Lakers will go into the draft with the 17th overall pick and the 55th overall pick. LeBron has expressed interest in possibly playing with his son. The Lakers will potentially have two chances to draft him.”
The last reason is this gives James more power with his next deal versus opting into pre-existing terms.
“I think there are some features he can put in a new contract,” Windhorst said. “If he opts in, he only gets one year and $50 million. He can potentially get multi-years, and he does not have a no-trade clause in his contract. There’s only one out there in the NBA and it belongs to Bradley Beal. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’d like to lock that in as well. I do think we’re going to be hearing some silence from LeBron between now and the end of June as we watch what the Lakers do as a team.”
In James’ previous free agencies, he left the Cavaliers for the Heat in 2010, jettisoned Miami for the Cavaliers in 2014 and headed to Hollywood in 2018.
James can still return to the Lakers on a new deal even if he enters free agency.
