According to sources who spoke with ESPN on Wednesday, LeBron James has decided to rejoin the Los Angeles Lakers on a two-year, $104 million contract that includes a no-trade clause and a player option for 2025–2026.
James returns to the NBA for his 22nd season as part of the deal, which effectively makes it a one-plus-one exchange that lets him reevaluate his Lakers and NBA prospects the following summer.
James is one of just two NBA players with a no-trade clause, the other being guard Bradley Beal of the Phoenix Suns.
The Lakers’ maximum contract of $104 million would significantly reduce the team’s roster flexibility and put them around $1 million over the league’s new punitive salary cap. According to insiders, James’ agent Rich Paul, the CEO of Klutch Sports, is scheduled to speak with Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka about the potential of accepting a payment of around $1 million less than the maximum in order to keep Los Angeles under the $188.9 million second apron.
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Additionally, a league source told ESPN’s Dave McMenamin that the Lakers and Bronny James Jr., the 55th pick in this year’s draft, had struck an agreement to sign James to a rookie deal on Wednesday. According to the source, he consented to a $7.9 million, four-year contract with a team option in the fourth year.
As Bronny James and his father join the Lakers, they may become the first father-son team to play in the NBA simultaneously in the history of the league.
LeBron James is regarded as one of the best players in NBA history and will turn 40 on December 30. He ranks fourth all-time in assists, ninth in steals, eighth in made 3-pointers, and third in made free throws. He is the only player to reach 40,000 career points.
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