LeBron James has decided to opt out of his contract with the Lakers and become a free agent, a move that wasn’t unexpected
As many had reported leading up to Friday’s deadline, LeBron James will reportedly opt out of his contract with the Lakers and will officially be a free agent
This has been the worst-kept secret in the NBA, as it’s been expected for months that James would opt out. The Lakers are also reportedly prepared to offer a multi-year deal, so hopefully, the uncertainty of where James will play in the 2023-24 season will be short-lived.
James’s opting out makes sense from the perspective of wanting a no-trade clause. A no-trade clause could not have been offered had he just opted in and extended the current contract. Now, he can start with a fresh contract and include that in a new deal. The trade-off is that he will get slightly less money on the deal.
Why would LeBron want a no-trade clause this late in his career? Power. It ensures the Lakers can’t ever change course on him or send him somewhere he doesn’t like if things go south in Southern California.
A prime example is when the Warriors and Sixers inquired about a deal for LeBron at the trade deadline. Had Los Angeles wanted to, they could’ve made a deal and moved LeBron and he wouldn’t have been able to stop it.
With a no-trade clause, any move involving him has to get his okay. Bradley Beal is the only current player with a no-trade clause in their contract.
On the floor, LeBron is still otherworldly. In the 2023-24 season, he averaged 25.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 8.3 assists, leading the team in both points and assists. So, while he may not be Prime LeBron, he is still undeniably a leader, an All-NBA player and, at worst, the second-best player on the Lakers.
If the L.A. can bring LeBron back, implement their rookie class, develop their rotation players and make some roster upgrades via free agency, they could be a better team and inch closer to another Larry O’Brien trophy.
LeBron may have opted out, but all signs point to him remaining in Los Angeles for the time being. While it does give him leverage, it’s not a move that will catch the Lakers off-guard and should all still end in him suiting up in purple and gold next season.
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