Sources revealed to ESPN that LeBron James intends to cancel his final year of contract with the Lakers and reach a new agreement with the team.
LeBron James intends to opt out of the final year of his $51.4 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers for next season and reach a new deal with the team, a source familiar with his plans revealed to ESPN.
James, 39, has until 5 p.m. ET this Saturday to inform the Lakers of his official decision.
The Lakers are committed to keeping James with the franchise and would be interested in offering the four-time MVP up to the maximum three-year, $162 million contract for which he is eligible to retain him, sources added to ESPN.
Los Angeles selected James’ eldest son, Bronny James, with the 55th pick in the second round of the NBA Draft on Thursday.
James averaged 25.7 points, 8.3 assists and 7.3 rebounds in 71 games last year, the most he has played in six seasons with the franchise. He shot 54 percent from the field and a career-best 41 percent on 3-pointers as he was named to the All-NBA Third Team and became the first player in league history to surpass 40,000 points.
Lakers star big man Anthony Davis, who played five of those six seasons with James in Los Angeles, said he intentionally did not pressure James regarding his decision this offseason. The two will also pair up at the Paris Olympics this summer.
“I’m just respecting his space,” Davis told ESPN this week. “I know we’re going to be together all summer and I know if he decides to do something, whether it’s staying with the Lakers, opting in or out and quitting or opting out and choosing a different path, I know he’ll tell me before he makes any (official) decisions just because we have that relationship. So I’m pretty sure I’ll know before anybody else besides his family and Rich (Paul).”
