Longtime NBA insider Brian Windhorst has explained why he thinks LeBron James will opt out of his current contract with the Lakers.
Although this sounds ominous, Lakers fans should take a breath and hear what Windy has said.
“I think LeBron’s gonna opt out no matter what,” Brian Windhorst said on The Hoop Collective. “And the reason I think he’s gonna opt out no matter what is even if he just signs back for one year, the only functional way for LeBron to get a no-trade clause is to sign a new contract. If he extends the contract he’s in or picks up that option, extends onto it, he can’t get a no-trade clause. And I think for a number of different reasons, LeBron would like, ask for and probably be granted, a no-trade clause.”
No trade-clauses in the NBA are few and far between.
Only ten players in NBA history have had contracts which includes that clause.
Those players are David Robinson, John Stockton, Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, Dirk Nowitzki, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, Bradley Beal and LeBron himself – with the he signed with the Cavaliers before the 2015 / 16 season.
The clause likely stopped Lakers legend Kobe Bryant from changing teams when he demanded a trade in 2007.
If LeBron does want a no-trade clause in his contract, he must be pretty sure that the purple and gold are going to draft his son Bronny James.
Bronny declared for the 2024 NBA Draft last week, while also entering the NCAA transfer portal to maintain college eligibility.
READ MORE: Former All-Star Weighs In on Bronny’s Decision to Enter NBA Draft