Four-time NBA champion LeBron James has opted out of the final year of his contract with the Los Angeles Lakers but is working on a new deal with the team, an ESPN report revealed Saturday.
While the decision means James will become a free agent on Sunday for the fourth time in his storied career, his future with the Lakers is hardly in doubt after they selected his son in the second round of the NBA Draft on Thursday.
According to ESPN, James has opted out of a $51.4 million contract for next season so he can become a free agent eligible for a maximum three-year contract with the Lakers worth $162 million.
But ESPN, which has involved James’ agent Rich Paul, said the NBA’s all-time leading scorer is willing to work with the Lakers on a sub-cap deal to better position the team to sign an impact player.
“He’s prioritizing improving the roster,” Paul told ESPN. “He’s adamant about making every effort to improve the roster.”
James had until Saturday to decide whether to accept his player option for the 2024-2025 season.
Paul could not be reached for comment, while the Lakers did not immediately respond when asked to confirm the ESPN report.
In six seasons with the Lakers, the four-time league MVP has averaged 27 points, 8.0 assists and 7.9 rebounds per game.
The Lakers finished seventh in the Western Conference this year with a 47-35 record before losing to the defending champion Denver Nuggets in the first round of the NBA playoffs.
