Report: LeBron James to opt out of player option with Lakers, expected to return on new contract

After the Los Angeles Lakers selected his son Bronny in the NBA Draft, LeBron James intends to opt out of his player option, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania. He was set to make $51.4 million next year if he opted in.

But he’s not necessarily leaving the Lakers, though. The expectation is James will be back in Los Angeles next season on a new deal.

James is eligible for a max extension, which could be worth three years and $164 million. Charania recently reported the Lakers “badly” want James back, and after they drafted Bronny, he’ll have the chance to do what no other NBA player has done by taking the court alongside his son.

As free agency gets underway Sunday night at 6 p.m. ET, James was largely expected to opt out of his deal and potentially sign a new deal. Now that Bronny is in Los Angeles after going No. 55 overall in this week’s draft, LeBron will now look to make even more history next season.

James just completed his 21st NBA season and will turn 40 years old at the end of December. The league’s all-time leading scorer hasn’t lost a step, averaging 25.2 points, 7.3 rebounds and 8.3 assists while shooting 54% from the field.

JJ Redick: I want LeBron James ‘shooting threes’

The Lakers made some major changes after last season, though. They moved on from Darvin Ham and hired JJ Redick as head coach just before the draft, meaning his task will be not only developing Bronny James, but helping LeBron, Anthony Davis and Co. get back on track after two straight up-and-down seasons.

It sounds like Redick, who spent the last couple years as an ESPN analyst, is ready for the pressure of coaching one of the best players of all-time. During his introductory press conference, he discussed his excitement to work with James – and the plan for the superstar to shoot more from downtown.

“With LeBron, you certainly have to get buy-in and talk to him about how he wants to play,” JJ Redick said. “Him and I have joked about this, but he shot over 40 percent from three this year. I want him shooting threes. He’s going to have his three or four busts every game where he gets out in transition and does things that no one at his age should ever be able to do, but he does it.”