James and the Los Angeles Lakers have begun the offseason, and now according to the US media "Open Air Grandstand Sports" wrote an in-depth interpretation, James and the Lakers' future partnership. Now James' agency, Klutch Sports, said it has not discussed James' future internally, and James' decision will also affect the Lakers' future decisions.
James, whose contract is currently one season left, could sign a two-year, $97.1 million extension in August, but it's unclear if he will do so. "Based on my conversations with people who have a strong understanding of this sort of thing, it's clear that James is considering fulfilling his remaining one-year contract rather than signing a two-year contract extension this summer," The Athletic's Sam Amik recently reported.
Klutch Sports sources insist that internal discussions about James' future have not yet taken place. However, after last week's season farewell meeting with the team, James did not make any promises.
James' decision could determine where the Lakers go in the offseason, and if he refuses to make a commitment for them after next season, that could affect how they handle Westbrook's situation. The Lakers may have to hand out their 2027 and 2029 first-round picks to get rid of Westbrook's $47.1 million contract that expires this summer. If James renews his contract, he will stay for another three seasons, which will help the Lakers make plans for the future.
If James refuses to renew his contract early this summer
If James refuses to renew his contract this summer, the Lakers will either move on or give up the title race. While James doesn't have a ban on trading terms, the superstars have some control over where they go, especially as their contracts expire.
Westbrook is one of many dominoes that could have been influenced by James' decision, and since James' family lives in Los Angeles, James hasn't said he wants to leave the Lakers. However, the threat that James could leave next offseason could help him hire other players and coaches to gain more influence.
Over the past decade, the Lakers have had a lot of great players, including Ingram, Russell, Randle, Kuzma, Caruso, Clarkson, Hart, Zubac, and the recently defeated guard Reeves. However, in order to get James, Thick Brow, and Westbrook, they gave up most of them in one way or another.
Whatever role James has played in these decisions, James doesn't seem to be excited about the Lakers' series of operational moves in recent years. James can use his contract status as a way to exert more control over their future signings, trades and draft picks.
There is no James contract extension to promise the Lakers or start a rebuild
If James doesn't extend his contract and leaves next summer, the Lakers will gain tremendous financial flexibility. Based on the current situation, if James leaves next summer and they waive their contract extensions for other players, the Lakers could have $57-75 million in salary caps for the next offseason ($128.1 million expected for the 2023-24 season). The Lakers will still keep the thick-browed guys staying for at least another year, and they may consider signing another star or two in the free agency market.
The Lakers can't guarantee to attract another group of big-name players, and instead if James leaves, they may seek to get rid of the thick-browed brother's contract and start over, which isn't necessarily a bad plan. The Lakers don't have any promises of a long-term contract in the future, and they can seek to rebuild the team.
Zhan Mei to cooperate until the 2023-24 season or the 2024-25 season?
Even if James agrees to renew his contract this summer, he may want to have a player option in his final season, which will match the early termination option of The Thick Brow before the 2024-25 season, which will make the Lakers likely to lose two stars by then.
At best of all, they will all remain healthy to compete for the title and don't want to leave, and the past year may have been a short, tough time. Again, given that James will turn 38 in December, how long can he still play at the elite level? That may not have mattered to the Lakers, who re-signed Bryant in their 30s, even though Bryant suffered a devastating injury to the Achilles tendon. Kobe Bryant is no longer the same player after that injury, but the Lakers re-signed him on a two-year, $48.5 million contract, illustrating how much they value and care for the power of the star.
James remains one of the league's best-known players, and despite the team's poor record, he had a brilliant season. This past season has been a challenging, ugly experience for the Lakers, which may mark the end of their marriage to James, but a re-contract extension could also happen.
Half in and half out may not work for either side, but if James is unwilling to renew his contract this summer, what choice the team will make is unknown.
(Text/Drunken Floating Life)