SUMMARY
- Brian Windhorst believes that LeBron James will opt out of his contract with the Lakers.
- LeBron is more likely to sign a new contract which would give him a no-trade clause.
A prominent member of the media and NBA Insider recently opined that LeBron James is not going to sign a contract extension. As the vast majority of fans should be aware, LeBron is a 4x NBA champion and currently playing for the Los Angeles Lakers.
At the moment, King James is supposed to be at the backend of his NBA career and is in his 21st season. His future in the league is clearly approaching an inevitable end and the basketball community is undoubtedly curious about his final years in the NBA. That said, a closer look at the situation is certainly required.
LeBron James is on a 2-year deal worth $99 million with the Lakers
Fans who follow NBA news might know that LeBron is currently in the first year of a 2 year contract extension worth around $99 million. He has a player option for the upcoming NBA season. This means King James could choose not to sign another extension with the Lakers. NBA Insider Brian Windhorst opined that LeBron is likely to opt out of his current contract.
NBA insider thinks LeBron will opt out of Lakers deal, seek no-trade clause: https://t.co/GJshCCshzV
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) April 8, 2024
“I think LeBron’s gonna opt out no matter what, And the reason I think he’s gonna opt out no matter what is even if he just signs back for one year, the only functional way for LeBron to get a no-trade clause is to sign a new contract. If he extends the contract he’s in or picks up that option, extends onto it, he can’t get a no-trade clause….LeBron would like, ask for, and probably be granted a no-trade clause.”
Windhorst certainly seems to be making an interesting point. To those who do not know, a no-trade clause allows for an NBA star to reject a destination that his team decides to move him to if it is not favorable to the star. Since LeBron appears to have clear plans for the future, signing a new contract would undoubtedly be in his favor.
Will signing a new contract help King James play alongside Bronny?
Over the past few years, there have been several instances where LeBron James has indicated his sincere desire to play alongside Bronny James. Since Bronny recently declared for the upcoming NBA Draft and is likely to make it into the league, not signing an extension with the Lakers would allow for King James to be on the same team as his son.