NBA insider reports LeBron James would take $16 million pay cut on one condition
LA Lakers superstar LeBron James is reportedly willing to take a $16 million pay cut to help the team access its full nontaxpayer midlevel exception and shore up its roster. NBA insider Chris Haynes of TNT said it is hinged on certain criteria.
Speaking on the Bleacher Report live stream on Saturday, Haynes shared that James is considering receiving less money in re-signing with the Lakers only if it would land them a bona-fide league star or a solid starter.
He said:
"In order for LeBron James to sacrifice enough money to get the Lakers receiving the full midlevel exception, [he] will have to take $16 million less next season. And that's a lot of money ... For someone who is 39 years old that's a lot of money to be given up in a season.
"But it would take that much to get the Lakers the full midlevel exception. [However] if LeBron were to do this, it's not a situation that you gonna use that to bring on a couple of players to try to improve the team by the margins. No. It will take a star-level or a borderline star player to accept that midlevel exception, which would be a pay cut for that player. That's what it will take for LeBron to take a pay cut..."
He went on to name possible players who fit such a mold, namely, Klay Thompson of the Golden State Warriors and James Harden of the LA Clippers.
LeBron James opted out of his contract with the Lakers on Saturday with the intent of re-signing. By doing so, he would not be exercising his $51.4 million player option for next season.
If he is to take a pay cut, his starting salary for next year would be around $33 million. In such a scenario, pundits and observers see him re-signing with the Lakers for two years with a player option for the 2025-26 season and then re-sign for a larger sum after.
Just in case the team does not land the star player or solid starter it is after, LeBron James will just sign a max contract,
'The King' played his 21st year in the NBA in the last campaign. He was still solid with averages of a team-high 25.7 points and 8.3 assists, to go along with 7.3 rebounds and 1.3 steals in 71 games for the Lakers (47-35).
LeBron James committed to Team USA for Paris Olympics
While he continues to ponder over his NBA future, LeBron James is committed to playing for Team USA in the Paris Olympic Games this summer. He reiterated this earlier this month, saying that he's healthy and looking forward to joining forces with fellow NBA stars in defending the gold medal.
39-year-old James said:
"It's more miles put on these tires. [But] I'm going to commit my mind, body, and soul to being out there for USA basketball, being out there representing our country with the utmost respect and go out there and play."
At Team USA, James is joined by Lakers teammate Anthony Davis, Steph Curry (Golden State), Bam Adebayo (Miami) Jrue Holiday and Jayson Tatum (Boston), Kevin Durant and Devin Booker (Phoenix, Kawhi Leonard (LA Clippers), Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana), Joel Embiid (Philadelphia) and Anthony Edwards (Minnesota).