It appears likely that LeBron James will be back for his 22nd season in the NBA, but the question remains: will he stick with the Los Angeles Lakers or test free agency? According to Bleacher Report’s Greg Swartz, James may decline his $51 million player option to sign a three-year, $162 million max deal with the Lakers.
Swartz suggests that James, who has expressed interest in owning an NBA team in the future, may be looking to secure one last big payday. With impressive stats this season, including averaging 25.4 points, 8.2 assists, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game, James is considered a lock for the All-NBA team. Swartz believes that if James were to leave in free agency, it would greatly impact the Lakers’ championship aspirations. The recent max extension signed by Anthony Davis with the Lakers may also influence James to sign a similar deal with LA, including a player option at the end.