Lakers have not spoken to LeBron James about his plans beyond this season

When it comes to the Los Angeles Lakers, it’s all about LeBron James and winning another championship.

There is no doubt about the latter, but there may be about the former.

Per Dave McMenamin of ESPN, the Lakers have not spoken to James’ camp about his plans beyond this season. James, 39, has a $51.4 million player option on his contract — and if he declines it, he will be an unrestricted free agent over the summer.

For now, the Lakers are focused on multiple trades, presumably to land a third borderline star to team with James and Anthony Davis.

“Unlike James’ final season in Cleveland in 2017-18, when the Cavaliers made clear that any trade involving their lottery-projected 2018 first-round pick would be contingent on James’ commitment to stay with the franchise, the Lakers have not preemptively spoken to James’ representatives about the star’s future plans, a source familiar with the situation told ESPN,” McMenamin wrote.

James signed a two-year extension worth $99 million in August 2022. He’s making $47.6 million this year.

He has said in the past that he would join any team that drafts son Bronny James, currently a freshman at USC. Bronny will be eligible for the 2024 NBA Draft, though it’s hard to know if he will declare for the draft or be selected if he does. It’s also hard to know if LeBron would actually leave the Lakers if Bronny were indeed drafted by another team.

But for the Lakers, it’s all about this season and trying to emerge from their current run of mediocrity into something resembling title contention.

James is averaging 24.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, 7.4 assists and 1.3 steals, shooting 52 percent from the field and 39 percent on 3-pointers. 

He carries career averages of 27.1 points, 7.5 rebounds, 7.3 assists and 1.5 steals with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat and Lakers, becoming the NBA’s all-time leading scorer along the way.

New for ESPN: With the NBA trade deadline less than three weeks away, here’s the latest I’ve heard about the three potential approaches the Lakers could take to improve their team https://t.co/jtfw7G8DIX

— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) January 23, 2024