Lakers free agent LeBron James projected to land intriguing short-term contract deal

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May 22, 2026 - 15:54

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Lakers free agent LeBron James projected to land intriguing short-term contract deal originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

NBA superstar and unrestricted free agent LeBron James is projected to land a one-year deal this summer.

According to ESPN NBA front office insider Bobby Marks, he projects James will sign a one-year, $30 million deal that includes a full no-trade clause.

Marks also listed several teams he believes would be the best fits for the 41-year-old, including the Los Angeles Lakers, Cleveland Cavaliers, San Antonio Spurs, Denver Nuggets and the Golden State Warriors.

" Would James compromise to return to L.A.? A $30 million salary would allow the Lakers to re-sign Luke Kennard, Rui Hachimura and use the full $15 million non-tax midlevel exception. The Lakers could also act as a cap space team but without Hachimura and Kennard. They would then have $20 million in room and also the $9.4 million room exception.

"As for suitors outside of the Lakers, teams such as Cleveland, Denver, Golden State and New York can offer only the $3.9 million veterans minimum."

Where James will sign is still a mystery, but all indications point toward the 22-time All-Star returning for what would be an unprecedented 24th NBA season.

The former No. 1 overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft has shown time and time again this past season that he still has a lot left in the tank. James remains in great shape, and he was arguably the best player in the playoffs for the first two rounds.

It's not a matter of if but when James will make his free agency decision. On a recent podcast episode of "Mind The Game," James offered a clearer idea of the timeline for when he expects to make that decision.

"I think at some point up in June, late June, as July rolls around, free agency starts to get going and July rolling, maybe into August, we start to get a feel of what my future may look like," James said. "If it's continuing to play the game that I love, which I could still give so much to the game and play at a high level, or if it's not. But I have not got to that point yet."

The future Hall of Famer is a hot commodity even this late into his illustrious career.