According to ESPN transfer expert Brian Windhorst, it is almost certain that LeBron James will temporarily say goodbye to the Los Angeles Lakers.

More specifically, LeBron will prioritize activating the Player Option clause, cutting the last year of the existing contract and officially becoming a free player in the transfer market.

However, James did not do this to give up the Los Angeles Lakers and move to another team. Instead, he will negotiate and re-sign a new contract with the yellow and purple team. Sharing on television, ESPN experts said:

“There is still one month left for LeBron James to decide on the possibility of cutting his contract early with the Los Angeles Lakers to become a free agent, the deadline is June 29.

There is great belief among experts that LeBron will cut his contract one year early with the Los Angeles Lakers. The reason is not necessarily that LeBron wants to leave the Lakers, but mainly to structure and rebuild a new contract with the yellow and purple team.

Everything will be more open with more terms when you negotiate and negotiate with the team as a free player. So LeBron wants to pursue this option.”

With the prestigious channel ESPN sharing the above, there is a high possibility that the message that representative Rich Paul (representing both LeBron James and his son Bronny James) accidentally revealed a few days ago is correct.

While appearing on TNT radio to show the 2024 NBA Playoffs Western finals, Rich Paul accidentally said that “LeBron James is a free agent” even though this has not been officially announced.

Rich Paul then immediately retracted his words and said: “I don’t know what LeBron’s intentions are”.

According to James’s existing contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, he still has 1 year left on his contract, receiving a salary of 51.4 million USD for the 2024-25 season. But due to the final year ‘Player Option’ clause, LeBron has the right to cut his contract one season early to become a free agent.

This decision must be made before June 30 (Vietnam time), one day before the free transfer market – NBA Free Agency opens.

Mr. Windhorst further explained: “The fact that LeBron has not yet made a decision to opt-out is because he wants to wait for his son Bronny James to decide on a plan to become a professional player or return to school basketball.

According to the information I have, Bronny will choose to stay in the NBA Draft to start his professional path, especially after the recent period when this player left a lot of impression in the eyes of scouts.”

According to transfer expert Bobby Marks, LeBron James can receive a 3-year contract worth up to 162 million USD if he becomes a free agent and re-signs with the Lakers.

This will be the most expensive contract LeBron has ever had in his entire career, surpassing his old personal record of a 4-year contract worth $153.3 million signed in 2018.

After this contract, James twice renewed his contract with the Lakers in the form of 1+1. One extension of $85.6 million (signed in 2020) and one extension of $99 million (signed in 2022), all are max contracts.

Considering LeBron James’s age and recent comments about his preparations for retirement, the next contract LeBron signs may be the last NBA contract of his career.

The NBA Draft event will take place on June 27-28. Then June 30 is the deadline for LeBron James to decide to opt-out of his current contract. July 1 will be the time to open the free transfer market – NBA Free Agency 2024.