NBA Offseason Rumors: LeBron James' $53M player option faces uncertainty amid looming 2025 free agency

LeBron James has enjoyed a colorful seven-year stint with the LA Lakers — a partnership that has yielded one championship for Tinseltown. Now, James faces a huge decision: whether to exercise or decline the player option in his current contract.

If rumors swirling online are to be believed, James might be declining his player option, worth $52.6 million, according to Spotrac — but not necessarily to leave the purple and gold squad.

According to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints, James will be using his old strategy of "signing those unique '1+1' contracts which give him and the Lakers flexibility to adjust their cap numbers accordingly."

By doing so, James can provide the Lakers more leeway to reshape their roster and build around his new running mate Luka Doncic.

With James wrapping up his 22nd season in the league, it makes sense for the Lakers to start pivoting towards Doncic as the undisputed face of their franchise. After all, their blockbuster deal to get the Slovenian guard, which came at the cost of parting ways with extraordinary big man Anthony Davis, was made with the Lakers' long-term future in mind.

LeBron James continues to bring tremendous value to the table, averaging 24.5 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 8.5 assists per game this season. Even as the Lakers begin a rebuild around Doncic, James remains an integral piece for the team.

LeBron James responds to critics casting doubt on chemistry with Luka Doncic

LeBron James, of course, has gone viral after guesting on "The Pat McAfee Show" this past Wednesday. Among the many topics that he discussed in this podcast was the criticism aimed at the Lakers after pairing him and Doncic in the blockbuster trade.

When McAfee brought up naysayers claiming that James and Doncic would not be able to play together, James responded with a dismissive comment:

"Must be the idiots that don't know the game of basketball," James said. "Oh my goodness, there's so many of those guys out there right now." [Timestamp - 4:10]

LeBron James also implied that there were a number of players-turned-analysts who had never "thought" the game yet continued to offer their opinions on their respective platforms.