LeBron James is playing in his 15th NBA season and he's still dominating the league as its best player. Even though he is very close to turning 33, the superstar small forward isn't slowing down. On the contrary, he is posting some of the best numbers in his career this season. There is no doubt that the Cleveland Cavaliers would fall apart without him, but they may not be able to keep him after the season ends.
In 2016, James signed a three-year contract with the Cavaliers. The four-time MVP was paid nearly $31 million in the first year of the contract and he will be paid $33.3 million this season.
However, he may not stay with the Cavaliers for another year as he has a player option on his deal. This means that LeBron is able to opt out of his contract and become a free agent next summer.
LeBron's close friend and business partner Maverick Carter recently talked about the superstar's decision and the factors that will affect it.
LeBron James wants to win
The most important thing for LeBron is winning. This isn't surprising considering that he's chasing Michael Jordan and that he wants to win as many championships as possible. Right now, the Cavaliers aren't exactly in a good position to offer him another championship, but that may change soon.
Maverick Carter, who appeared on the Rich Eisen Show, made it clear that playing for a big-market team won't be a factor in James' decision.
“These days, it doesn’t matter anymore. The Lakers and the Knicks have been bad—the Knicks for a very long time," said Carter. He added that you can be a star anywhere in the world, which is definitely true when it comes to LeBron.
Carter also made it clear that LeBron James' media endeavors are not important when it comes to his free-agency decision.
This is why rumors of him going to Los Angeles don't make a lot of sense.
James hasn't made his decision yet
Maverick Carter said LeBron James won't start thinking about his free-agency options anytime soon. "He never starts thinking about it before the end of the season," said Carter. He added that James needs some time to decompress and let everything calm down.
It usually takes him a week to bring his decision, but it may take him a bit longer this time.
There will be many teams interested in LeBron next summer, including the Los Angeles Lakers. The Cavaliers will try to keep him in Cleveland, but if they fail to win a championship this season, it is easy to see why James would rather go somewhere else.
