Exec Details Win-Win LA Lakers & LeBron James Contract Terms That Both MUST Consider
· Yahoo Sports
A rival executive broke down the new contract the Los Angeles Lakers should give LeBron James, and it feels like a win-win for both sides.
On Monday, the Lakers saw their 2025-26 campaign come to a disappointing end when the Oklahoma City Thunder completed a dominant four-game sweep in the semifinals of the NBA playoffs. After their 115-110 loss at home, the speculation about James’ future immediately kicked off.
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Over the next few weeks, the 22-time All-Star must decide if he wants to play one more season in the NBA. If he does return for a 24th season, while there will be interest from other teams like the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers, a return to the Lakers makes the most sense.
“It’s just hard to fit him anywhere,” a West scout told ESPN’s Tim Bontemps on Friday. But James won’t come cheap, and the chances of him taking a veteran’s deal to chase a title don’t make business sense for him. “By our metrics, he remains a top-25 player in the league, and if not for his age, we’d probably assess him at near max player level,” an East team strategist also told ESPN’s Brian Windhorst.
Should the LA Lakers offer LeBron James a one-year deal with a no-trade clause?
So what sort of deal should the Lakers offer that makes sense for them in the short and long-term, but doesn’t offend one of the greatest players of all-time, who is still playing at an All-Star level at 41 years old? An executive from an Eastern Conference team has an idea.
“I’d pay LeBron whatever he wants as long as it’s a one-year deal, no player option. Give him the no-trade clause. Everything [new Lakers owner Mark] Walter has done so far has been about good business. LeBron sells tickets. He keeps the [local] TV partner happy. Re-signing LeBron is good business.”
-Eastern Conference exec (via ESPN)
James made just over $52 million this season. Yet, paying him that amount again when the team is set to give Austin Reaves a sizable pay increase in a new long-term deal this summer doesn’t make much sense. Would the four-time MVP be open to the idea of a contract in the $35 to $40 million range? Maybe.
One-year James deal makes sense for the LA Lakers long-term
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectWhile he wants to chase championships, James is a smart businessman and is not going to waste his value to benefit a billion-dollar NBA club. The Lakers are one of the few contending teams that can offer him close to the money he deserves.
Furthermore, LA showed over the final two months of the season that they can be a threat in the West if James, Reaves, and Luka Doncic are healthy. If the front office can better round out the roster around them, James gets a chance to chase a title in the city he prefers to stay in, and for close to market value.
For the Lakers, it makes sense to keep James for one more season. As mentioned, they will be a very good team again. And if there is any inkling that this is his final year, the club can bank big bucks from a pseudo retirement tour. But also, it makes long-term sense to re-sign him and look ahead to the summer of 2027.
Next summer big-time stars like Stephen Curry, Anthony Davis, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jimmy Butler, Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, Donovan Mitchell, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Kyrie Irving might all be available.
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