All signs still appear to be pointing toward LeBron James returning for at least one more NBA season.
And most around the league seem to believe that season will come with the Lakers.
According to ESPN insider Shams Charania, there remains strong belief James intends to play a 24th NBA season despite continued retirement speculation surrounding the 41-year-old.
“All the indications I’ve gotten over the course of the year is that he’s gonna play one more season,” Charania said during an appearance on The Rich Eisen Show.
As for where?
“That’s gotta probably be his preference,” Charania said of Los Angeles. “The Lakers have made clear they want him back.”
At this point, the bigger question may not be whether James returns, but under what kind of contract.
NBA insider Jake Fischer said there’s growing sentiment around the league that James would give himself the best chance at another title by taking a significant pay cut in free agency.
“There is definitely, I think, a prevailing sentiment around the league that LeBron, wherever he goes, would be best served to take a minimum salary contract if he does care ultimately about winning another championship,” Fischer said.
That would obviously be a massive development financially if it actually happened.
Still, though, James continues publicly taking a wait-and-see approach after the Lakers’ playoff exit.
“With my future, I don’t know,” James said after the Lakers were swept by the Thunder. “I’ll go back and recalibrate with my family and talk with them and spend some time with them.”
That’s not exactly shocking.
James has repeatedly emphasized over the years that family plays a major role in his career decisions, and Los Angeles has become home for him both on and off the court.
If he does come back, the Lakers still have plenty riding on the offseason around him.
The organization needs to build a more complete contender around James, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves after injuries and roster flaws derailed what looked like a dangerous playoff group at times this season.
Year 24 increasingly feels likely. The only remaining mystery is whether it’ll also be the final chapter.
James has also been linked to the Cavaliers, Warriors, Knicks and even crosstown Clippers ahead of unrestricted free agency.
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