Now that the Los Angeles Lakers have been eliminated from the 2024 NBA Playoffs, the big question is whether or not they’ll bring back superstar LeBron James or if they’ll consider moving him to start fresh.
NBA insider Shams Charania says the Lakers are “all in” on keeping James in the fold for the foreseeable future.
“I’m told LeBron James expects to play up to two NBA seasons and that would take him to year 23 seasons in the NBA,” Charania told Pat McAfee on Tuesday. “He has a $2.4 million player option for next season and that does give him a great amount of flexibility. A good amount of leverage. He can opt into that deal. Have an extension. He can opt-out. Reach a new extension.
“By the way, guys, from what I’m told and what we reported yesterday on this piece with The Athletic, the Lakers, Jeanie Buss, they’ll go as far as offering him a three-year, $364 million maximum contract if that’s what it takes to keep LeBron James. If he wants to come back on a one-year max, two-year max, three-year max, the Lakers are all-in.”
Charania added that James will likely keep a close eye on what the Lakers do during the offseason in terms of free agents. What happens in the NBA Draft and whether or not the Lakers select Bronny James could also be a big factor in what he does. LeBron has said previously that he wants to play alongside his son before retiring.