Magic Johnson Thinks LeBron James Will Opt Out in 2014

Speaking with the Los Angeles Daily News (via Ira Winderman of the Sun-Sentinel), Magic said that he believes LeBron James will opt out of his contract with the Miami Heat next summer.

“LeBron could opt in, but I don’t think he will because he could get paid more,” Magic explained. “That would be a stupid move by LeBron to opt in. That doesn’t make sense. Even if he signs back with Miami, he has to opt out to get more money.”

Magic’s right, it does make sense, which is why it has been the belief all along that he would “explore” free agency.

Opting out doesn’t mean he’ll definitely leave the Heat. With three NBA Finals appearances, two championships in hand and the prospect of procuring a third still alive, it’s difficult to imagine that he’s already plotting his escape.

Had the Heat lost in each of their three finals appearances or even failed to get there, then maybe. Right now, after all the success he’s found, I’d be surprised if he was already pining for the day it was over.

Of course, this doesn’t necessarily imply he isn’t going anywhere. How the team fares next season will have a lot to do with his decision, I believe. A third straight championship makes it incredibly difficult for him to leave. Not many players have had the opportunity to go after a fourth consecutive ring.

There’s just too many factors at play right now, though, to come to a concrete prediction, including those pertaining to the Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Lakers, both of whom will have cap space in 2014, and both of whom will make an aggressive play for The King should he reach free agency.

To be sure, there’s really no guarantee even of that. Like Magic says, LeBron could opt in. It wouldn’t be the favored financial decision, but LeBron doesn’t really need money at this point in his career. If the Heat fail to win a title and he decides he wants to give it one more go in South Beach as sort of a barometer for the future, then he could do just that.

Then he’d hit the open market in 2015, much to the disappointment of all the teams who have spent years planning for 2014. At which point, there’s no telling if the Lakers or Cavs would have held out that long. My guess would be at least one of them, among a foray of other teams, cave and moving forward without him. You can’t spend too much time harping on LeBron, especially if you’re the Lakers and your main selling point is an aging Kobe Bryant.

Presently, it doesn’t seem like LeBron will get that far. Exploring free agency in 2014 is presumably what he’ll do, no matter what happens in Miami this season.

Where he’ll go from there is anybody’s guess. I doubt even he himself knows what lies ahead, beyond next season. All he probably cares about is now, about winning another championship.

Everything else he’ll figure out later.