Anthony Davis is not going to push LeBron James about his pending free agent decision.
James opted-out of his $51.4 million player option for 2024-25 on Saturday, which means he will hit the open market when unrestricted free agency begins on June 30. While he is expected to resign with the Lakers, Davis said that he will respect James’ decision making process and knows the 20-time All-Star will notify him soon.
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“I’m just respecting his space,” Davis said, per Dave McMenamin of ESPN.. “I know we’ll be together all summer and I know if he decides to do something — whether stay with the Lakers, opt in or opt out and resign or opt out and choose a different path, I know he’ll tell me before he makes any [official] decision just because we have that relationship. So I’m pretty sure I’ll know before anybody else besides, like, his family and Rich [Paul].”
Bobby Marks of ESPN reported that James is eligible to sign a three-year, $162 million deal if he wanted to pursue the most lucrative contract possible. However, Chris Haynes of Turner Sports reported that James is “considering” a deal that would allow the Lakers to utilize the full mid-level exception in free agency.
It’s safe to say the Lakers have made quite the sales pitch for James’ return. The team fired head coach Darvin Ham following the 2023-24 season and replaced him with 15-year veteran J.J. Redick, who notably hosted a podcast with James. Additionally, the franchise selected James’ son Bronny with a second round pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.
These developments, combined with the fact that James has spent the last six seasons with the franchise, signal that a return is more than likely and this could be the reason that Davis is taking a hands-off approach. Still, losing James would be devastating to the team and would significantly hurt its chances at contending in a loaded Western Conference.
