3 things that could happen as LeBron James becomes unrestricted free agent
The LA Lakers and LeBron James are in the middle of contract negotiations now that the NBA offseason is underway. While James currently has one year remaining on his deal in the form of a player option, the expectation is that he will opt out of the remaining year and pursue a new deal. According to reports, the belief is that the franchise will work with James to meet his terms.
Of course, whether that means that the four-time champ signs a one-year deal to keep his options open, or signs a three-year max extension, only time will tell. Both options have pros and cons for James in the years to come as he approaches retirement, however, some scenarios are better than others for the Lakers.
With free agency set to begin tomorrow, Jun. 30, let's look at three things that could happen as James approaches free agency.
Three implications LeBron James' contract negotiations could have for the Lakers
#3: LeBron James takes a pay-cut
It's no secret that LA is trying to win now. Whether the King signs for one year or re-signs for three, the team will be looking to make the most of his time with the franchise. To help put the team in the best possible position to win a ring, James could opt to take a pay cut and sign a team-friendly deal.
Doing so would provide flexibility to add other notable role players to their roster as they begin negotiations in free agency. The question in this case would be how big of a pay cut is the four-time champ willing to take.
#2: LeBron James signs a short-term deal to keep options open
As LeBron has stated previously, he wants to play with both of his sons in the NBA, whether alongside them or against them. With Bronny James now on the Lakers, LeBron is poised to play with one son, now it becomes a question of whether he sticks around to play with Bryce.
While Bryce James has expressed doubt that his dad will stick around until he's eligible for the 2026 draft, the four-time champ could look to sign a short-term deal. This would position him to sign a short-term deal wherever Bryce lands when the time comes.
#1: LeBron James resigns on a three-year max deal with No Trade Clause
After eight years in the NBA and four years with a team, players are eligible to add a no-trade clause to their contracts. This means that in addition to James potentially signing a three-year extension with LA, he could also request a no-trade clause.
This would put James under contract until past the age of 40. Despite that, as we've seen in the past, James' stats haven't dropped much in the twilight years of his career, and he seems poised to be a consistent producer for the Lakers so long as he's healthy.