LeBron James is reportedly set to demand a max contract from the Lakers! Can the Warriors still form a "Big Four"? He may stay with a two-year, $50 million deal.

On June 11 Beijing time, with Giannis Antetokounmpo’s plans still unclear, several blockbuster transactions—including the Ja Morant trade—are stalled. LeBron James’s future is equally uncertain. NBC Sports reports that James and agent Rich Paul are expected to demand a max contract from the Lakers. Previously, according to noted insiders Marc Stein and Jake Fischer, James is most likely to remain with the Lakers: he has spent eight seasons with the team, is deeply tied to the organization, his family is settled in Los Angeles, and his son Bronny is still on the Lakers’ roster.

However, both reporters also indicated that the Warriors are indeed interested in bringing in LeBron to join Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, with the aim of forming a quartet once Jimmy Butler recovers from his torn ACL. One of the Warriors’ selling points is that, during the season, James could easily commute to Los Angeles without needing to relocate his entire family.

A lineup featuring Curry, James, Butler, and Green would generate massive commercial buzz for the Warriors (and the league’s broadcast partners) and would be competitive in the West. Still, it would struggle to dethrone the dominance of the Thunder and Spurs. Moreover, all four core players are 37 or older, putting significant pressure on the team’s medical staff.

Salary remains the decisive factor for LeBron’s choice. Even with roster maneuvers, the Warriors could only offer him up to the $15.1 million mid-level exception. That would trigger the hard cap, and with the team’s payroll only about $19 million below that line, signing LeBron would leave the Warriors needing to fill at least four more roster spots under severe cap constraints.

The Lakers, by contrast, hold James’s Bird rights, allowing them to offer any amount. According to sources cited by NBC Sports, the Lakers’ current priority is re-signing free agent Austin Reaves and building a complementary roster around Luka Dončić. Fans expecting a major overhaul of the Lakers’ supporting cast this summer may be disappointed—the offseason changes could be minimal.

NBC points out that James and his agent Rich Paul will demand a max contract from the Lakers; if the Lakers’ offer falls short, they will also ask for a detailed explanation of the team’s salary plan—essentially probing the franchise’s future direction.

The general consensus is that James is more likely to return to the Lakers on a two-year, $50 million deal, with a player option in the second year and a no-trade clause. Compared to joining the Warriors in the Bay Area, staying in Los Angeles remains the far more probable outcome.