On April 13, Beijing time, the 2021-22 NBA playoffs & playoffs will kick off today. In the regular season, the Lakers only finished 33-49, ranking 11th in the West, and they missed the playoffs and playoffs this season, saying goodbye to the season's journey early.
The Lakers held a season summary meeting yesterday, and James and others made appearances. Among them, James's prospects are very concerned about the fans, James hinted at the wrap-up meeting that he would stay, he said: "My goal is to help the Lakers win a championship, I have done it, but I want to do it again." James also said: "Because of the restrictions of the collective bargaining agreement, we (Rich Paul, Pelinka) can only discuss this matter at a later stage." Lakers president Pelinka said of James' prospects: "All the signs show that the Lakers are James' long-term home! ”
In response to the speeches of James and others at the wrap-up meeting, Sam Amick, a well-known journalist from The Athletic, wrote an article analyzing James's prospects in the Lakers. He wrote: According to my conversations with people who are strongly aware of this. It's clear that James is currently considering finishing the contract, rather than renewing his contract with the Lakers for two years this summer. If his goal here is flexibility and freedom, James could return to the one-a-year strategy he preferred during his second-term Cavaliers career. (Note, James' salary next season is $44.4 million))
Sam Amick also wrote: "As James recently made clear, he will do everything possible to play with his eldest son Brownie, and no matter when Brownie can enter the NBA, signing a one-year contract is definitely a great way for James to avoid any surprises before the dream comes true." If he needs to be paid less than the top salary to achieve this goal, then accept it. (Note, Brownie's entry into the NBA will not be until the summer of 2024 at the earliest))
Under the rules, James is eligible for a two-year, $97.1 million early contract extension with the Lakers in August, which would ensure he plays for the Lakers until the summer of 2025 if James chooses to sign. But as Sam Amick wrote, James is currently considering not only loyalty to the Lakers, but also the soul of the lineup and the dream of competing with the Brownies in the future, so whether James can renew his contract with the Lakers early this summer has become unknown.