Whether James and the Lakers can continue to cooperate has become a hot topic in recent days. On February 25, Beijing time, Yossi Gozlan, a salary expert at the well-known AMERICAN media HopsHpe, wrote an article discussing James's future and announced his signing options. As an NBA superstar, James is expected to still earn more than $50 million at the age of 40, while the Lakers face a difficult decision that they may continue to overdraft the future of the team for James.
James' future choices
If James intends to continue to work with the Lakers, or even retire from the Lakers, he has different options in front of him. First, he qualifies for early contract renewal this offseason, signing up to a $97.1 million contract for up to $2 years under the 38-year rule. That means James still earns $50.4 million in his 40-year-old season.
James can also wait until the contract expires in 2023 before signing a new contract with the Lakers, when the biggest contract he can get is $151.3 million for three years.
According to the NBA salary rules, the Lakers can offer James a contract extension as early as August 4, local time, but James may not sign the contract at the first time, because he can sign this contract at any time in the 2022-23 season. The US media believes that he can put pressure on the Lakers by not signing a contract, while also leaving room for the 2023 free agent market to prevent the Lakers from playing another unsuccessful season.
If James plans to leave the Lakers in the 2022 offseason and apply for a trade from the team, the Lakers can appease him by having to exchange the few remaining assets for some new signings and try to keep James, even if they don't think the return will significantly improve their chances of winning the championship.
The Lakers face tough decisions
ESPN star Venhorst has said that the Lakers may have to consider trading James in the offseason. This is undoubtedly an extreme choice. Less than a last resort, the Lakers definitely do not want to part ways with James.
By this offseason, the Lakers' first-round picks to trade have increased to two: in 2027 and 2029, they have as many as eight second-round picks to trade. It is widely believed that the Lakers can quote one or two first-round and $47 million salary combinations with Westbrook to get a star who is more suitable for the Lakers. The Lakers could also swap a player with Westbrook and a first-round pick, and another first-round contract with Horton Tucker and Nunn for another player.
The Lakers can use these draft picks to get new players to convince James to stay on the team, but in the long run, they are likely to be using their future to bo for a season. Of course, if the Lakers operate properly, James may renew his contract with the Lakers next season. The US media said that the Lakers' willingness is to let James play in the team for a few more years (even until he retires), and let Brownie also join in, and achieve father-son sharing in the Lakers.
Some people also suggested that the Lakers simply rebuild, sending James and Thick Eyebrows away in exchange for young players and draft picks, and building a new Lakers team faster. Still, the Lakers have become accustomed to having superstars on the team, and the model of a thorough rebuild is something they have hardly been willing to touch in history.