Los Angeles Lakers superstar forward LeBron James is unclear whether he will continue his playing career after this season.
The 41-year-old superstar is near the end, but no decision has been made on that front. What’s next for the future Hall of Famer is unclear, but there are a couple of things that are clear if he decides to continue his career next season.
Sam Amick of The Athletic laid out James’ next possible contract, as it will play a big factor in where he plays in the 2026-27 season.
“There’s the matter of where he might want to play, with all sorts of recent speculation within the league about a return to Cleveland being a viable option. Perhaps even more importantly, there’s the question of how much money he’ll demand.
“If James is willing to take a serious pay cut, then the options would expand. But if he insists on staying at a maximum-salary level, or anything close to it, then the lack of a market for that sort of money could be the final factor in his exit.”
Will Any Team Offer LeBron James a Max Deal at 42?
It’s up to James whether or not he wants to continue his playing career; however, it’s clear teams aren’t willing to give him max money, including the Lakers.
James will turn 42 in December. He is no longer the player he once was, and committing maximum money to someone well past his prime would not serve any franchise well.
Nonetheless, it’s unclear what James will do past this season. His future with the Lakers is a bit murky. As things stand, all signs point to the two sides parting ways.
If that happens to be the case, the Cleveland Cavaliers could be a team that could take a stab at James.
The post LeBron’s Next Contract Will Be Big Factor in Where He Plays Next Year, Insider Says appeared first on LA Sports Report.