LeBron James is expected to become a Free Agent in the summer of 2018. Will he leave the Cleveland Cavaliers and join the Los Angeles Lakers? Which teams still have a chance? SPOX collects rumours and news about the king.
LeBron James is still considered to be the best player in the world and is in great demand on the free agent market. He could change clubs in 2018 if he so wishes. A new contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers is also possible – as is a one-year extension in Ohio. This is made possible by a player option.
LeBron James had signed a three-year contract with Cleveland Cavaliers worth $99.8 million in the summer of 2016. However, his third contract year includes a player option ($35.6 million for the 2018/19 season).
James can either pull this option – so he would play in Cleveland in the coming season – or miss it. In this case he would be an Unrestricted Free Agent. He would then be allowed to sign at any franchise without the Cavaliers being able to intervene. It is almost impossible for James to make use of the player option.
The Lakers have long been considered a new potential team of LeBron James. There are several reasons for this. Los Angeles is a big basketball market, which means that James could further boost his already huge marketing machinery. In addition, James owns two properties in “Tinseltown”, which only fuels the rumors. Recently, it is also relevant that the Lakers can afford a big contract for LeBron because they have enough space under their salary cap.
Whether LeBron actually changes to the Lakers is still in the stars. He himself had repeatedly stressed that he wanted to take time to decide what he would do in the Free Agency 2018 until after the season.
Explanations on various NBA terms such as Cap Space or Free Agent can be found here.
If he becomes an Unrestricted Free Agent, he can theoretically switch to any team. As mentioned above, however, this team must have enough salary flexibility and a realistic chance of winning the title. After all, James is already 33 years old and has no interest in building a new team.
In addition to the Lakers and Cavaliers, rumors have recently been circulating that there are two more franchises that allegedly have a chance of LeBron James: the Philadelphia 76ers and the Houston Rockets.
Philly is a very young team that would rise with James but in one fell swoop into the circle of title contenders. The rockets, on the other hand, are already such a contender, and Chris Paul, who is a good friend of LeBron, also plays with them.
No, not without his consent. LeBron James had a so-called no-trade clause written into the contract. That means the Cavaliers can’t simply trade him when he vetoes.