LeBron James, the star player of the Los Angeles Lakers, has the option to become a free agent in the upcoming offseason despite having one year left on his two-year, $99 million contract, with the second year being a player option worth over $51 million. Recent comments from James have fueled speculation about his future with the Lakers. James mentioned that the Lakers were one of the teams he considered during his 2010 free agency period. Adding to the speculation, he posted an hourglass emoji after the Lakers’ loss to the Atlanta Hawks on January 31, sparking trade rumors.
When questioned about these actions and his upcoming player option, James provided a one-word response, stating, “No.” Despite averaging impressive statistics of 24.9 points, 7.7 assists, and 7.5 rebounds per game this season, James’ future with the Lakers remains uncertain. His agent, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports, has refuted trade rumors from their side.
The discussion about playing in Madison Square Garden emerged during a conversation where James expressed his enjoyment of playing in such iconic arenas at this stage of his career. However, the Lakers’ challenging season has led to various players, including James, being entangled in trade rumors, marking another instance this season where the possibility of James leaving LA has been discussed.