How LeBron James contract extension impacts Lakers long-term plans: Breaking down future roster, free agents in 2024 and 2025

Kyle Irving

How LeBron James contract extension impacts Lakers long-term plans: Breaking down future roster, free agents in 2024 and 2025 image

The 2022-23 NBA schedule release was supposed to be the biggest news of the day on Wednesday, but that spotlight quickly shifted focus to LeBron James.

Just moments before the schedule was released for the upcoming season, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski broke the news that James has signed a two-year, $97.1 million contract extension with the Lakers, making him the highest-earning player in NBA history.

MORE: LeBron James contract extension details

James signing the deal put an immediate end to any speculation of him hitting unrestricted free agency next offseason, as we'll have to wait until 2024 — at the earliest — for LeBron to potentially hit the open market.

But what does LeBron's contract extension mean for his future and the future of the Lakers? Let's take a look.

LeBron James' contract extension breakdown

James still has one year remaining on his previous two-year, $85.7 million deal he signed with the Lakers in 2020. He is set to make $44.5 million in 2022-23 before his new contract kicks in in 2023-24.

LeBron James' contract
Year 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 2025
Salary $44.5 million $46.7 million $50.4 million (PO) UFA

*PO = Player Option

After his first season under his new contract in 2023-24, James will have a player option for the 2024-25 season. That gives the superstar forward the flexibility to hit unrestricted free agency the same year that his son, Bronny, is expected to be drafted into the NBA. James has been on the record stating that he wants to play alongside Bronny, and this contract still gives him that opportunity.

MORE: LeBron slams door on Bronny recruiting rumors: "You'll hear it from him"

Even if he picked up his $50.4 million player option for the 2024-25 season, he would hit unrestricted free agency in 2025.

Lakers multi-year summary

With LeBron under contract until at least the 2023-24 season, let's take a look at the other Lakers who are currently locked up for the short and long term.

Player 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 2025-26
Russell Westbrook $47.1M UFA    
LeBron James $44.5M $46.7M $50.4M (PO) UFA
Anthony Davis $38M $40.6M $43.2M (PO) UFA
Talen Horton-Tucker $10.3M $11M (PO) UFA  
Lonnie Walker IV $6.5M UFA    
Kendrick Nunn $5.3M UFA    
Stanley Johnson $2.4M UFA    
Damian Jones $2.3M $2.6M (PO) UFA  
Wenyen Gabriel $1.9M UFA    
Thomas Bryant $1.8M UFA    
Troy Brown Jr. $1.8M UFA    
Juan Toscano-Anderson $1.8M UFA    
Austin Reaves $1.6M RFA    
Max Christie $1M $1.7M RFA  
MONEY COMMITTED $166.3M $102.6M $93.6M  

With James' new contract extension, he and Davis' deals now matchup as both players have a player option for 2024-25 and hit unrestricted free agency in 2025-26. Westbrook only has one more year on his deal before he becomes an unrestricted free agent in 2023-24.

As you can see, nearly all of the Lakers' offseason signings were one-year deals. Walker, Johnson, Gabriel, Bryant, Brown and Toscano-Anderson will all be unrestricted free agents in 2023-24, while Reaves will be a restricted free agent.

This means that after the 2022-23 season, Los Angeles should have plenty of cap flexibility to insert another big-name player alongside James and Davis.

Who are the top free agents in 2024?

Should LeBron elect to decline his player option and become an unrestricted free agent in 2024, who else will be available that offseason?

Take a look at some notable names below.

  • Jaylen Brown
  • DeMar DeRozan
  • Draymond Green
  • James Harden
  • Tobias Harris
  • Kyle Lowry
  • CJ McCollum
  • Khris Middleton
  • Dejounte Murray
  • Kristaps Porzingis
  • Domantas Sabonis
  • Pascal Siakam
  • Klay Thompson
  • Fred VanVleet

Who are the top free agents in 2025?

If LeBron elects to pick up his player option for the 2024-25 season and elects to enter unrestricted free agency in 2025, who else will be available that offseason?

Take a look at some notable names below.

  • OG Anunoby
  • Lonzo Ball
  • Clint Capela
  • Anthony Davis
  • Paul George
  • Jrue Holiday
  • Brandon Ingram
  • Kawhi Leonard
  • Jamal Murray
  • Chris Paul
  • Ben Simmons

Kyle Irving

Kyle Irving Photo

You read that wrong – not Kyrie Irving. From Boston, graduated from the University of New Hampshire. Sixth season as a content producer for NBA.com's Global editions. Covering the NBA Draft has become his annual "dream come true" moment on the job. Irving has a soft spot for pass-first point guards, with Rajon Rondo and Steve Nash being two of his favorite players of all time.