LeBron James' Contract Value in NBA Free Agency Revealed by Exec amid Lakers Rumors

At least one NBA front office feels that LeBron James would earn close to a maximum contract on his next deal if his play were assessed without taking his age into account, ESPN's Tim Bontemps and Brian Windhorst reported Friday.

According to Windhorst, one strategist for an Eastern Conference team said: "By our metrics, he remains a top-25 player in the league and if not for his age, we'd probably assess him at near max player level.

"Our coaches would tell you he ranks even higher than that when his legs and back are feeling good."

James, who turns 42 in December, has not yet confirmed whether he will return for a 24th NBA season.

Bontemps reported that multiple NBA insiders at this week's scouting combine said James should receive "as much money as he wants" should he return.

The "general opinion" among insiders, Bontemps noted, is that James will return to Los Angeles Lakers rather than signing with a team that will likely have enough cap space to pay him the max.

"It's just hard to fit him anywhere," one scout for a Western conference team told Bontemps.

LeBron's Future

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The Lakers are currently projected by Spotrac to have more than $101 million in cap space under the first apron next season, but that's without new deals for key players like Rui Hachimura or Austin Reaves, who is likely to decline his $14.9 million player option.

James signed for $2.7 million below the max on his last contract with the Lakers. His willingness to sign another deal below the max could ultimately impact whether he returns for a ninth season in Los Angeles.