LeBron James is poised to make a widely anticipated free agent decision, but his future with the Los Angeles Lakers does not appear to be in much doubt.
According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, James intends to decline his $51.4 million player option and become a free agent. However, the widespread expectation is that he will simply negotiate a new deal with the Lakers.
Just In: Los Angeles Lakers four-time champion LeBron James intends to opt out of his $51.4 million player option for next season, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. The expectation is James will return to the Lakers on a new deal. pic.twitter.com/wQAbSAwCQD
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 29, 2024
There are no indications that James is considering going elsewhere, especially after the Lakers drafted his son. This is simply his way of maximizing his contract leverage, a tactic he has consistently used for almost a decade. While it is unclear what his next deal will look like, it will most certainly be structured to his liking.
James remains as good as ever, averaging 25.7 points, 8.3 assists and 7.3 rebounds per game last season.
This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.
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