The Los Angeles Lakers’ offseason has lots of moving parts that could immensely tilt the direction they head in for at least the next few years. One big item on their agenda was taken care of just days ago when they hired podcaster and former NBA sharpshooter JJ Redick to be their new head coach.
Perhaps the biggest piece to their offseason puzzle is LeBron James, their 39-year-old superstar and leader. He is widely expected to opt out of his contract, which would make him a free agent and give him the ability to leave the Lakers.
But many expect him to remain with the Purple and Gold on a new contract. Not surprisingly, the team seems prepared to offer him a three-year deal with the highest dollar amount the league will allow.
Via ESPN:
“James has until June 29 to opt in to the final year of his contract with the Lakers or become an unrestricted free agent,” wrote Dave McMenamin. “L.A. is committed to re-signing James and would offer the maximum three-year deal for which James is eligible to take him through his 24th season in the league, sources told ESPN.”
That deal could be worth somewhere in the neighborhood of $160 million.
It seems like an insane amount of money to pay an athlete who will turn 40 in late December, but James continued to play at a very high level this season, which was his 21st in the NBA. A report in The Athletic indicated that he is open to playing two or three more seasons before calling it a career.