LeBron James, 39 and entering his 22nd season, is asking for less.
On Sunday, the 20-time NBA All-Star agreed to play for less than the maximum he could sign for the first time in more than a decade in order to help the Lakers avoid salary cap restrictions in the future. First reported by ESPN.
According to the outlet, James signed a two-year contract extension worth $101.35 million but could have made up to $104 million.
The transaction is According to The Athleticalso comes with a player option and a 15 percent trade kicker.
According to Klutch Sports agent Rich Paul, James wants the Lakers to take a pay cut to acquire an “impact player,” but the team has been unable to attract free agents Klay Thompson or DeMar DeRozan through the mid-level exception or in a trade package.
Thompson’s new home will be the Mavericks, and ESPN reported Saturday night that DeRozan will move to the Kings in a three-year, $74 million sign-and-trade deal, despite interest from Los Angeles.
According to The Athletic, Gary Trent Jr. and Spencer Dinwiddie are “two names to look at” if Los Angeles can shave off enough cash and use the taxpayer mid-level exception.
James opted out of the final year of his $51.4 million contract in June, then decided to re-sign with the Lakers a week later after his son, Bronny James, joined the team with the 55th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.
The two will be the first father-son duo to play on the same team at the same time in the NBA.
The Lakers also avoided the second apron of the 2023 collective bargaining agreement ($17.5 million above the luxury tax threshold) by $45,000.
According to a report from ESPN, by avoiding the second apron, the Lakers could avoid having their 2032 first-round draft pick frozen and used in a trade during the 2025 offseason.
The last time James took a pay cut was in 2010, when he signed a two-year, $68.6 million contract with the Heat that allowed the front office to spend $15 million building a roster that led the team to four consecutive NBA Finals appearances and two championships.
