Over the last several months, there has been plenty of concern about whether LeBron James will stay with the Los Angeles Lakers beyond the 2022-23 season.
They are coming off a disastrous season in which they didn’t reach the play-in tournament despite being expected to contend for the NBA championship, and they don’t seem any closer to returning to elite status.
But on Thursday, the first day he was eligible to do so, James talked to the team’s front office about a contract extension, and the talks were reportedly “productive.”
According to one Lakers insider, things are looking good as far as both sides agreeing to an extension.
Via Lakers Daily:
“Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James is eligible to sign an extension with the franchise, and while some hope that he will leave the team in the near future, it seems like he’ll be staying in Los Angeles for a little while longer.
“All signs point toward both sides looking to extend their partnership together,’ ESPN’s Dave McMenamin said. ‘It’s already led to one championship in 2020. It’s also led to two playoff appearances where they didn’t make it, but overall I think both sides recognize that they can help one another get to their mutual goal, which is to compete at a high level and stay relevant as both one of the best players in the NBA and one of the most marquee franchises in the NBA.'”
The belief among some around the league is that James will end up signing a two-year extension, with the second year being a player option.
The four-time world champ is about to go into the final season of his current deal.
