Getty LeBron James.
There seems little doubt that LeBron James will play next season, his 22nd in the league. But will he pick up his $51 million player option with Los Angeles Lakers or test free agency?
Bleacher Report’s Greg Swartz predicted James would decline the option but re-sign with the Lakers for a three-year, $162 million max deal.
“[F]or someone who has spoken openly about wanting to own an NBA team one day, don’t be surprised if James looks to cash in one last time,” Swartz wrote in an April 7 column. “If James wants this deal, can the Lakers really say no?”
Swartz wrote that James “looks like a lock” for the All-NBA team, averaging a team-high 25.4 points and 8.2 assists per game. He also has 7.2 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game this season, barely below his career averages.
“If James leaves in free agency, he’ll take the Lakers’ title hopes with him,” Swartz wrote.
Swartz cited Anthony Davis‘ own max extension as a motivator for James to stay in LA.
Swartz added. “After Anthony Davis signed a three-year, $177 max extension with Los Angeles last summer, expect James to sign his own max deal with a player option at the end.”
Potential Destination Options Are Limited
Spotrac’s projected teams with the most cap space for 2024-25 — including the Detroit Pistons, Utah Jazz and Charlotte Hornets — aren’t exactly title hopefuls.
However, one of the teams at the top is the Philadelphia 76ers
“If James wants to compete for a championship and make this kind of money,” Swartz wrote on April 7. “The Lakers or the Philadelphia 76ers look like the only realistic options for now.”
Philadelphia, who’s seemingly locked into chasing Paul George, is projected to have the second most cap space to work with.
The only team ahead of the 76ers in Spotrac’s projections is the rebuilding Pistons.
And the Utah Jazz, sitting third on the list, wouldn’t be able to meet the Lakers’ salary offer by a long shot.
Swartz Predicts Bronny to Get Drafted in 2024
LeBron has made it clear that he has every intention of playing in the NBA with his son Bronny.
His son took the first steps to making that a reality on April 5, when he declared for the 2024 NBA Draft.
James averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists for a USC Trojans team that finished with the fourth-worst record in the Pac-12.
So it’s understandable that all of the Ringer, The Athletic, and ESPN’s most recent mock drafts don’t have him featured.
But they were published before Bronny’s decision to enter the draft.
Swartz preempted his prediction for LeBron to stay in Los Angeles, with another that his son is drafted in June.
“Expect Bronny to fall into the second round, with teams that have more than one pick in the second day the most likely to take a chance on his upside,” Swartz wrote. “The Indiana Pacers have the most selections (three), currently projected for Nos. 36, 51 and 52 overall.”
Pigs will likely learn to fly actual airplanes before LeBron James plays for the Indiana Pacers. But if a team like the Cleveland Cavaliers, Golden State Warriors or Miami Heat drafted Bronny, he might attempt to join his son.
The Lakers are equipped with a second-round pick in the upcoming draft too. Could they get a discount on James’ next contract as a byproduct of drafting Bronny?