The Lakers have finished their season and have not been able to cross the Nuggets mountain in the end. In the first round, the Lakers lost 4-1 to the Nuggets, and also suffered two unkillings. The performance of the Lakers this year is not bad, especially the core Zhan Mei combination, which has played a superstar performance. So the Lakers' top priority is to keep the core and then build around them. And the 39-year-old James has a player option, averaging 28 points, 7 rebounds and 9 assists per game, how much more contract extension is Lao Zhan worth?
Let's start with James' regular season performance, although he is a 39-year-old veteran, James has maintained a high attendance rate, and he has played in 71 games. played an average of 35 minutes per game, and the number of shots reached 17.9, which can be said to be a physical monster. And his play is also quite stable, averaging 25.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 8.3 assists per game. With a 54 percent shooting percentage and a 41 percent three-point shooting percentage, the offense is very efficient.
James in the regular season is also a superstar performance. Not only is he well-rounded, but he also has a high three-point shooting percentage, and he has become an elite shooter. He's an All-Star and a proper All-Star quality small forward.
Looking at the playoffs, James played 5 games for the Lakers against the defending champion Nuggets. After 5 games, James's statistics were 27 points, 6 rebounds and 8 assists, 26 points, 8 rebounds and 12 assists, 26 points, 6 rebounds and 9 assists, 30 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists, and 30 points, 9 rebounds and 11 assists. scored 20+ points per game, averaged 27.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and 8.8 assists per game, and shot 57%, which is still at the level of a superstar.
On the whole, James is still a superstar in the regular season and playoffs, and although he is 39 years old, he is still a first-line superstar in the league. Not only that, Lao Zhan's popularity is undoubted, he has been an All-Star starter for 20 consecutive years, and he is also the king of Western tickets this year, full of influence. So no matter which team he is on, James' commercial value is full. Even if he signed him just to sell tickets, he could get it.
The Lakers are also full of sincerity, Anthony Davis has a long-term contract, and James is in the player option. There is a high probability that he will choose to jump out of the contract so that he can have the initiative. According to well-known journalist Shams, the Lakers are willing to discuss any contract with James. In other words, the Lakers will satisfy James as much of a contract as he wants.
However, James is nearly 40 years old, and the NBA also has veteran clauses, so James' new contract can only be 3 years and $164 million at most. The Lakers have also given the answer, they will offer James such a contract, and continue to build a better roster around the James Mei combination.