Last summer, James signed a two-year, $101.3 million contract with the Lakers with a player option for 2025-26. He is due to earn $48.7 million this season and $52.6 million next season.
Signing short deals has been part of the hallmark of James’ career since he left the Miami Heat in 2014 and rejoined the Cleveland Cavaliers. His first deal with the Lakers was a four-year deal, but his past two contracts with the Lakers were two years with a player option on the second season.
He and his agent Rich Paul of Klutch Sports have often used the system to their advantage with James becoming a free agent often to maximize his earnings and options.
All things Lakers: Latest Los Angeles Lakers news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.
James was away from the team for personal reasons starting Dec. 11, but returned to help lead L.A. to a win over Memphis with 18 points, eight rebounds, eight assists, two blocks and a steal in 34 minutes on Dec. 15. James missed the Dec. 8 and Dec. 13 games due to left foot soreness, according to the team. The Lakers are scheduled to play at Sacramento on Thursday.
Lakers coach JJ Redick indicated that he will attempt to manage James’ minutes so that he can be more effective in shorter bursts of time on the court coupled with shorter rests on the bench. And James may still get the occasional game off, too.
Let’s take a look at James’ contract situation:
What is LeBron James’ contract status?
James, who turns 40 on Dec. 30, is in the first year of a two-year, $101.3 million contract with the Lakers, and he can become a free agent after this season or play out the second year of the deal and hit free agency after the 2025-26 season.
As part of the deal James signed with the Lakers in July, he secured a no-trade clause, and the contract includes a 15% trade kicker, meaning he would get a 15% bonus paid by the Lakers if traded.
What is a no-trade clause?
A no-trade clause means the player must approve any trade, which gives the player control of his situation. A no-trade clause is uncommon – James and Phoenix’s Bradley Beal are the only players with such a clause in their contract.
How does a player get a no-trade clause?
According to the collective bargaining agreement between the NBA and National Basketball Players Association (players’ union), “A Player Contract entered into by a player who has eight (8) or more Years of Service in the NBA and who has rendered four (4) or more Years of Service for the Team entering into such Contract may contain a prohibition or limitation of such Team’s right to trade such Contract to another NBA Team.”
Is it possible the Lakers trade James?
If you adhere to the maxim that no player/contract is untradeable, then yes, it’s possible James is traded. But it would have to be the most perfect situation.
It’s fun to speculate about James joining Steve Kerr and Steph Curry with Golden State since they had so much success together at the 2024 Paris Olympics. But that’s a difficult trade to make, given James’ salary.
Regardless, there’s no indication James wants to leave the Lakers. At the 2024 All-Star Game in Indianapolis, I asked James if he planned to finish his career with the Lakers.
“I am a Laker, and I am happy and been very happy being a Laker the last six years, and hopefully it stays that way,” James said. “But I don’t have the answer to how long it is or which uniform I’ll be in. Hopefully, it is with the Lakers. It’s a great organization and so many greats. But we’ll see. I don’t know how it’s going to end, but it’s coming. It’s coming, for sure.”
Since then, if anything has changed in Lakers Land for James, it’s been for the better. The Lakers hired James’ podcast buddy, JJ Redick, as head coach, and the franchise drafted his son, Bronny, with the No. 55 pick in the second round of the 2024 draft. In fact, they became the first father-son duo to play together when they took the court in the Lakers’ home opener.
James and his family also like L.A.
What’s the most games James has missed in a season?
James has been reliable throughout his career, proving another maxim: one of the best abilities is availability. You don’t get to 40,000 points, 11,00 assists, 11,000 rebounds and 20 All-NBA selections by missing too many games.
The most games James has missed in a season is 27 – in 2022-23, 2020-21 and 2018-19. He also missed 26 games in 2021-22. Other than that, he has not missed more than 20 games in a season.
What about retirement for LeBron James?
It’s difficult – but not impossible – to envision James retiring in-season. Yes, his last few games before his mini-break were not great. During a 2-7 stretch before excused absences against Portland and Minnesota, James averaged 22.2 points, 8.7 assists and 7.8 rebounds but shot 46.8% from the field and 27.8% on 3-pointers. But in the first 14 games of the season, James averaged 23.5 points, 9.4 assists and 8.1 rebounds and shot 51.5% from the field and 41.6% on 3-pointers. He can still play, and whatever deterioration there is in his ability, he’s still pretty good.
Retiring now or soon leaves a lot of money on the table, and unless there’s just no other option, players (and most others when given the choice) just don’t walk away from millions of dollars.
Follow NBA reporter Jeff Zillgitt on social media @JeffZillgitt