LeBron James' Real Priority After Opting Out Of Lakers Contract Revealed

LeBron James has officially opted out of the final year of his contract with the Los Angeles Lakers. According to James' agent, Rich Paul, via ESPN's Dave McMenamin , the NBA legend prioritizes roster improvement in the offseason.

That means the four-time league MVP will sit down with the Lakers and come up with a new contract that potentially will help the team land an impact player. His option for next season was worth $51.4 million.

Some speculated whether James would consider leaving the Lakers, but those concerns went out the window when the organization selected his son Bronny with the No. 55 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.

"He is prioritizing a roster improvement. He's been adamant about exuding all efforts to improve the roster," Paul said, per McMenamin.

The Lakers lost in the playoffs for a second straight year to the Denver Nuggets. They avoided being swept for a second consecutive season, but they did drop the series 4-1 to a team that looked superior to them in every way.

The Western Conference isn't getting any easier with multiple young and hungry teams on the rise, including the Minnesota Timberwolves and Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Lakers could make the playoffs, but it's hard to envision them competing for a championship without additional firepower. James turns 40 in December, and Lakers forward Anthony Davis' health will always be questioned.

There was a time when two superstars were all that was needed to run roughshod over the rest of the NBA, but those days are long gone.

Still, what James continued to do at age 39 is nothing short of amazing. He averaged 25.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 8.3 assists in 35.3 minutes per game last season.

Additional reinforcements could get the Lakers closer to NBA title contention, if not put them over the top.

Related: LeBron James Used Two Words To Describe Bronny James' Jersey Number Choice