The superstar Lakers could target as NBA awaits LeBron’s big $79m contract call

The trade rumour mill is set to go into overdrive as the NBA world waits for the game’s biggest star to make a call on his career.

LeBron James has a big decision to make. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

LeBron James knows his every word is endlessly scrutinised. He also understands the power that comes with that reality too.

So, when the Los Angeles Lakers were knocked out of the NBA Playoffs by the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday and a question came up about his future, James smirked.

“I’m not going to answer that,” James said.

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Not because he doesn’t want to or because he doesn’t have the answers. Sure, James may not quite know what exactly his future in the NBA looks like beyond this summer.

But he certainly knows what his options are and staying put in Los Angeles is one of them.

James also knows he is in the ultimate position of power and that has been the case since he joined the Lakers on a four-year, $154 million ($A238m) deal in 2018.

This summer is different though. LeBron is the Lakers and, for the first time since making the move to L.A., he could become a free agent instead of opting into the final year of his contract.

James has until June 29 to make that decision, a key date since it comes just a few days after the NBA Draft, which could see son Bronny James enter the league.

The 39-year-old has long expressed his desire to play with his son at some stage of his career and the Lakers are reportedly prepared to consider making that a reality.

Although it is not the only factor that will determine what step James takes next.

Was there any thought that tonight was your last game with the Lakers?

LeBron James: “I’m not going to answer that.” pic.twitter.com/tOySUdsmbI

— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) April 30, 2024

According to ESPN insider Brian Windhorst, there are three factors that will come into consideration as James decides whether to opt into his $51.4 million ($A79.4m) player option for the 2024-25 season.

The first suggests James won’t be making a decision anytime soon, instead waiting until that June 29 deadline to see what moves the Lakers make or don’t make at this year’s draft.

“I think he wants to see what the Lakers do around the draft,” Windhorst said on ESPN’s ‘Get Up’. “

“They have potentially three first-round picks they can trade, a couple of contracts they can package with it to upgrade the team. You remember that they did not make any significant upgrades to this team at the trade deadline.

“LeBron did not forget that and I think he likes to have that pressure on them.”

LeBron James’ future is clouded. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

Then there is the matter of Bronny, who on Wednesday appeared on the early entry list for the 2024 draft.

This does not mean that he is a lock to declare for the draft but that he is at least keeping his options open, which include also going back to play another year in college.

That may be the better option for Bronny, who suffered cardiac arrest in August last year and went on to average 4.8 points and 20 minutes in 25 games for the Trojans last season.

In other words, even if Bronny is drafted it is unlikely he will see regular minutes in the NBA right away, instead starting out in the G-League as he further develops his game.

Plus, while LeBron initially told The Athletic in 2022 that he hoped to play his last year with Bronny, last year he told ESPN it was more about sharing the floor with his son.

“Either in the same uniform or a matchup against him,” James said at the time.

That is consistent with reporting from ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski on ‘NBA Today’ on Wednesday, where he said “the idea of them playing together is not a priority” for James.

“It’s not foremost, at least any longer, in LeBron James’ mind,” Wojnarowski added.

The latest report from The Athletic in the wake of the Lakers’ playoffs exit claimed L.A. is “very open” to the idea of drafting Bronny, although if the franchise goes star-chasing it is more likely the picks are dealt as part of a trade.

LAKERS’ DRAFT PICKS IN 2024

Lakers’ first-round pick (Pelicans own pick but can defer to 2025)

Lakers’ second-round pick (Spurs own pick)

Clippers’ second-round pick (Lakers own pick)

Bronny James may be drafted next month. (Photo by David Becker / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP)

Windhorst said he believes the Pelicans will defer their pick to next year, meaning the Lakers would go into the draft armed with the 17th and 55th overall picks.

Bronny though is more of a developmental player that does not project as a mid first-round pick and may not be available at 55th overall either.

As for the third reason Windhorst expects James to opt out, the ESPN insider said it simply comes down to the Lakers superstar getting more power in his next deal.

“I think there are some features he can put in a new contract,” Windhorst said.

“If he opts in, he only gets one year and $50 million. He can potentially get multi-years, and he does not have a no-trade clause in his contract.

The LeBron James Options in LA pic.twitter.com/poszG2wfGr

— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) April 30, 2024

“There’s only one out there in the NBA and it belongs to Bradley Beal. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’d like to lock that in as well.

“I do think we’re going to be hearing some silence from LeBron between now and the end of June as we watch what the Lakers do as a team.”

James tweeted as much on Wednesday, writing that he doesn’t know what his future holds and is instead “only thinking about spending time” with his family and friends.

“When I know after speaking with the fam, my counsel as well as my representation about it then you guys will know,” he added.

I’ve seen, heard a lot of reports about my future. I said it last night and I’ll say it again. I do not know yet as I’m only thinking about spending time with my family & friends! When I know after speaking with the fam, my counsel as

— LeBron James (@KingJames) May 1, 2024

While that may be the case, what are the other leading insiders across the league reporting as to what could come next for both James and the Lakers?

Well, ESPN’s Dave McMenamin reported that as of last week, team officials “still did not know” what James plans to do with his contract.

Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer, meanwhile, wrote that sources around the league “have largely believed all season” that James’ “strong preference” is to stay with the Lakers for the rest of his career.

A comprehensive report from The Athletic’s Shams Charania, Jovan Buha and Sam Amick claimed that opting in and opting out of his $51.4 million ($A79.4m) player option are both on the table for James.

The Lakers want James to return “badly” according to the report, which added that the prospect of the 39-year-old staying put with the Lakers “remains the most likely scenario”.

In fact, The Athletic reported that the Lakers would be open to even discussing offering James the maximum three-year, $164 million ($A253m) extension if it means keeping him in Los Angeles.

Ultimately, what the Lakers do over the summer to improve the roster could swing his decision, as Windhorst also hinted at.

“It’s anticipated James, ahead of his June 29 option date, will want to see how the Lakers manage the offseason and their approach to building the roster around him and Davis,” Charania, Buha and Amick wrote.

Some more context:

1. D'Angelo Russell controls the offseason in LA.

2. The Lakers need to get their finances in order to be a player in the trade market.

They are trending in apron territory. https://t.co/T4lpUjPE7u

— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) April 30, 2024

“He places importance on having comprehensive and well-rounded depth around him, which could mean the Lakers explore trades in the lead-up to that player option, sandwiched between the NBA Draft, which begins June 26, and the opening of free agency on June 30.”

So, what exactly could that look like?

Well, James isn’t the only Laker who has a big call to make this offseason, with D’Angelo Russell also in a position to turn down his player option for next season and become a free agent.

Russell’s production down the stretch of the regular season was one of the main reasons the Lakers found themselves in the playoff picture in the first place, although his inconsistent play against the Nuggets — headline by a scoreless Game 3 — is fresher in the mind.

“When I signed my contract last year, I knew what position I was going to put myself in, so to be in that position now with a little leverage, I’ll try to take advantage of it,” Russell said in his exit interview.

D’Angelo Russell will likely test the market. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

It sounds like Russell is planning to opt out of the second year of his contract, which would cast doubt over his future at L.A. depending on what sort of offers he gets on the market.

If Russell does leave, it would only create even more incentive for the Lakers to target an upgrade at the point guard position, having long been linked to Hawks star Trae Young.

The Athletic report claimed the Lakers are “expected to be aggressive in the market”, with Young “one of many names that is expected to be discussed”.

There would likely be mutual interest since it was reported by NBA insider Marc Stein last month that the Hawks are “likely” to trade either Young or Dejounte Murray this offseason.

Young would definitely be a more consistent scoring option than Russell, averaging 25.7 points and 10.8 assists in his most recent season with the Hawks.

Although Young’s fit is questionable given his issues playing alongside another ball-dominant point guard in Dejounte Murray at Atlanta and that is before you even get into his defensive deficiencies.

Trae Young is a target. Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images/AFP

Then you also factor in the fact James “places importance on having comprehensive and well-rounded depth around him” according to The Athletic report.

Well, matching Young’s $43 million ($A66m) salary would mean parting ways with some of that depth.

The Athletic reported that Austin Reaves has “strong value across the league” while Rui Hachimura is another name that would likely come up in trade talks along with the Lakers’ three first-round picks, which would be eligible to be moved on draft night.

Throwing away depth and long-term assets in the pursuit of a star player would just be repeating the same mistake they made in trading for Russell Westbrook, even if he is obviously not the same player as Young, who is at least only 25 years old.

Either way, both the Lakers and LeBron have big decisions to make this summer and regardless of where it leads, the entire league will be watching.

Originally published as The superstar Lakers could target as NBA awaits LeBron’s big $79m contract call