LeBron James wants no-trade clause on next Lakers contract.
The future of Lakers star LeBron James has been often debated this season, but it appears we have more clarity on what he wants. LeBron James holds a $51.4 million player option, but according to Brian Windhorst on The Hoop Collective podcast, he intends to decline his current deal mainly to secure a no-trade clause.
“I think LeBron’s gonna opt out no matter what. 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,” Windhorst said in a conversation about James’s upcoming negotiations with the Lakers.
If James were to secure a no-trade clause in his new contract, he’d be the second player to have the clause alongside Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal.
James has had a no-trade clause in his contract before and he and Beal are two of only ten players in NBA history that have had a no-trade clause, per The Boardroom.
The duo joins David Robinson, John Stockton, Kobe Bryant, Dirk Nowitzki, Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, Dwyane Wade, and Carmelo Anthony.
James certainly has the leverage to secure a no-trade clause in his next contract with the Lakers. At age 39, he’s having a remarkable All-NBA level season that has helped keep the Lakers in playoff contention.
He is averaging 25.2 points, 7.2 rebounds and 8.2 assists and has reached the required amount of games to be considered for postseason awards, as instituted by the NBA in the off-season.