Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James could be a free agent in the coming months, and the franchise needs to have a contingency plan in case the team loses King James. ESPN’s Chris Herring put together a list of moves he would like to see happen this offseason.
In one of the more wild moves, Herring has James opting out of his contract and signing with the Philadelphia 76ers. The analyst plays out this scenario and has the Lakers signing Los Angeles Clippers guard Paul George as a result. Like James, George would need to opt out of his current deal for Los Angeles to be able to sign the veteran.
In an article published on May 28, 2024, under the heading “NBA free agency 2024: 10 blockbuster trades, deals that need to happen this offseason,” Herring stated, “If the Lakers lose James, it wouldn’t be surprising to see them move extremely quickly to hold things together.” “Maxing out George, who remains one of the NBA’s best two-way players at 34, is the obvious way to accomplish this.” He was among the top 10 in the league for defensive deflections with three per game, and he also set a career high with 41.3% of his three-point field goals on almost eight attempts a game.
“It’s not clear that the Clippers — who agreed to a slightly less than max extension of three years with Leonard — want to max out George,” Herring added. “The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that the Clippers were reluctant to go that far, and have so far offered him less than that. (Also of note: Harden is also a free agent this summer.) All of which might present an opening for the Lakers if they’re willing to spend.”
Lakers Rumors: LeBron James’ Future Remains a Mystery
James is slated to have a $51.4 million cap hit in 2024-25 in the final season of a two-year, $99 million contract. The superstar can opt out of his deal, but James has yet to reveal his decision.
There is added scrutiny on James as his son Bronny James is one of the prospects in the 2024 NBA draft. James has talked openly about his desire to play with his son before his career is over.
Lakers Rumors: Could Paul George Replace LeBron James in LA?
Although James hasn’t indicated that he intends to leave the Lakers, all possibilities are open to him until he makes a decision. There will be a lot of conjecture over James’ future and the possible domino effects up until NBA free agency begins.
Veteran sports writer Jonathan Adams writes about golf, the NFL, and the NBA for Heavy.com. Numerous publications, including NFL.com, Yahoo Sports, Pro Football Talk, CBS Sports, Bleacher Report, and Sports Illustrated, have highlighted his work.Additional details regarding Jonathan Adams
