Report: Lakers to offer LeBron 3-year max deal
The Los Angeles Lakers are committed to re-signing star LeBron James and are willing to offer him a three-year max deal to take him through his 24th NBA season, sources told ESPN's Dave McMenamin.
James' contract would be worth a total of around $160 million. He has until June 29 to accept or decline his $51.4-million player option for the 2024-25 season.
The 39-year-old can't re-sign for more than three years due to the NBA's Over 38 Rule, which prohibits players that age from inking longer contracts.
His deadline comes after the NBA draft, where his son Bronny James is among the prospects who hope to be picked. Bronny worked out with the Lakers and Phoenix Suns, while the Dallas Mavericks, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Toronto Raptors have interest in the former USC guard.
The elder James averaged 25.7 points, 8.3 assists, and 7.3 rebounds in 71 games, earning an All-NBA third-team selection for the third straight campaign.
Despite largely healthy seasons from James and co-star Anthony Davis, the Lakers were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Denver Nuggets.
The franchise parted ways with Darvin Ham, replacing him with another first-time coach in JJ Redick, whom general manager Rob Pelinka says was one of the "Plan A" targets.