One day after LeBron James’ agent Rich Paul sought to quell trade speculations, the superstar rejected to commit to the Los Angeles Lakers beyond the current season. When asked if his future intentions had been set, James responded, “No.”
“LeBron James declined to offer clarity on his ⌛️ tweet and when asked if he knows what he will do with his contract option for the Lakers this summer said, ‘No,'” ESPN’s Dave McMenamin explained in a February 3, 2024 statement on X.
The unspoken message for the Lakers’ front office: the heat is on. James declined to explain his hourglass emoji tweet, but the superstar is definitely conveying a feeling of urgency at this juncture in his career.
James is in the last season of his two-year, $99 million contract with the Lakers. The superstar is set to enter free agency this summer, with possibilities including joining another NBA team, retiring, or re-signing with the Lakers.
LeBron James’ agent Rich Paul on Lakers rumors: ‘LeBron Won’t Be Traded.’
Despite Paul’s public statements, it is worth noting that James does not have a no-trade provision. Would the Lakers be bold enough to make a deal before the February 8 deadline? It’s doubtful, but Los Angeles risks losing James for free this summer.
“LeBron won’t be traded, and we aren’t asking to be,” James told ESPN’s Brian Windhorst on February 2.
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James’ statements stand in sharp contrast to previous years, when the star has highlighted his desire to remain in Los Angeles. Both James and the Lakers face a far more problematic summer.
Last summer, James publicly discussed retirement options. This offseason is expected to be no different, but there is also the Bronny James aspect.
After years of conjecture about collaborating with his oldest son, James will finally be able to join the NBA draft. Given his sluggish start at USC, James is not guaranteed to be drafted in 2024.
Insider on LeBron James’ Future: ‘I Don’t Know If It’s Gonna Be [Playing] for the Lakers’
Windhorst previously stated that James was not guaranteed to return to the Lakers next season. Few NBA insiders are as close to James’ camp as Windhorst, who has covered the star since his high school days.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen with LeBron in 2025,” Windhorst said on a January 17 broadcast of “The Hoop Collective.” “I think LeBron will play next year, but I’m not sure if it will be with the Lakers. Probably, but he can opt out. There are grounds to address this.
Jonathan Adams writes about the NFL and NBA for Heavy.com, with a concentration on the Dallas Cowboys, Seattle Seahawks, Philadelphia Eagles, Tampa Bay Bucs, and Los Angeles Lakers. His work has been widely published on NFL.com, Yahoo Sports, Pro Football Talk, CBS Sports, Bleacher Report, and Sports Illustrated. More about Jonathan Adams.
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