Of course, James’s desired end game is unlikely to be in New York, or Cleveland, or Oklahoma City. He can extend his deal on August 4, and might do so for a “1+1” that has a player option in 2024 … the better to put maximum pressure on the Lakers the next two years, and also to set himself up to play with his son Bronny in 2024 if that should come to pass. (James could technically do this in 2023 if he was willing to play for G League Ignite, but I suspect that wasn’t the situation he was thinking aloud about).