LeBron James decided to opt-in in the final year of his contract with the LA Lakers.
The decision will help him make $52.6 million, but the comments from his agent Rich Paul made Purple and Gold fans a bit worried.
In a statement after announcing LeBron James’ decision, Paul said:
“He understands that, but he appreciates the realistic chance to win it all. We are extremely grateful for the partnership he’s had with Johnny (Bus) and Rob (Perinka) for eight years, and considers the Lakers a key part of his career.”
Last year, James made a similar decision, and he decided to opt out of new deals and sign the signing, but the 40-year-old opt-in now means the Lakers will make many decisions.
All reports suggest that the four-time champions want to stay in LA, but there is also a focus on his desire to win.
James is in his 23rd year in the league and is looking to play his best basketball and help the Lakers run the championship.
However, the La Lakers player could even develop his contract very well or become part of a deal that sent him to another team.
Lakers insiders revealed that James and the team have been a hot topic for several years.
News of James’ opt-in led to many potential trade destinations being discussed.
Lakers Insider Jovan Buha has selected Dallas Mavericks to one of the teams that interest him.
He states: “I think it’s a bit too early where LeBron can go, but I don’t think he’s asking, but if he does, I think there’s a list, but I think I’ve thought of the four teams who came up with Dallas, Cleveland, New York and Golden State in a particular order.
“But I’m going to say that the talk of LeBron and Dallas has been going on for a few years now.”
Buha also continued to talk about rumors about the Mavs-James trade that was born in 2023 when Irving went to Dallas.
“In the last week or two weeks with LeBron and Dallas, there have been some talk about the general NBA ether,” he added.
Despite being a 40-year-old player, he is still one of the best players in the league and is able to perform at a high level.
However, in the past few years, the Lakers have failed to put the right pieces around him, leading to a disappointing ending in the playoffs.
The latest campaign was another example of this as the team looked great in the second half, but trading Anthony Davis gave a gap in the center position.
He was dominated by Rudy Gobert in his playoff matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves, which showed the team needed a new center.
Rob Perinka confirmed that the team would trade a lot in the offseason, but they just don’t have the assets to do big things.
James’ opt-in was a move that put pressure on the Lakers to carry out transactions that would help the roster move forward.
His son, Bronnie James, is on the roster and wants to be with him while he is still in the NBA.
With free agency currently open, the team has several options to choose from from the centre market.
They lack assets, but they need a center to keep James happy.