LeBron James has indicated he is willing to take an annual pay cut of up to $20 million to help the Los Angeles Lakers, according to a new report.
LeBron has been with the team since 2018 (he won a championship in the Covid-affected 2020 season) and they selected his 19-year-old son Bronny with the 55th pick in this week’s 2024 NBA Draft.
Just hours later, LeBron waived his $51.4 million player option, and has now been informed by Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN who is willing to accept a huge pay cut if it allows the team to strengthen its roster.
When asked what James’ decision to terminate the contract meant, Woj explained: ‘It means, first of all, that LeBron James plans to return to the Lakers, but the question is: what kind of contract will he make in the future?
“What LeBron James has told the Lakers is essentially: If the Lakers have the opportunity to reach a couple of impact players who are available in free agency, with their mid-level exception, LeBron James is willing to accept less money”. in this deal.
LeBron James seems willing to take a huge pay cut to help the Los Angeles Lakers improve
Earlier this week, LeBron was officially joined in Los Angeles by his 19-year-old son Bronny.
“It would be considerably less money, perhaps more than $20 million, so the Lakers can have their full exception at the mid-level. That’s why the Lakers are preparing the search for Klay Thompson, Jonas Valanciunas, the center of New Orleans who is another player in this free agency class who is a veteran and accomplished.
Wojnarowski went on to explain that options in free agency are expected to be limited, so the Lakers are expected to make a move early, perhaps as early as the opening night.
He went on to explain on ESPN’s NBA Today show: “If the Lakers can’t get one of those players using that $13 million mid-level exception, then ultimately LeBron James takes his full max, which on a three-year deal is $160 million more.”
The four-time NBA champion, now 39, has further cemented his legacy as one of the all-time greats since moving to Los Angeles in 2018.
After winning four rings and setting the NBA’s all-time scoring record during stints with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat, as well as the Lakers, Bronny’s arrival will likely provide him with fresh incentive and motivation next season.
Bronny’s selection comes after weeks of speculation about when he would be chosen in the NBA Draft, with a range set from the first round to being completely undrafted.
LeBron (pictured in 2007 with Bronny) has often spoken about his desire to play with his son.
It’s a family affair in Los Angeles and now Savannah (left) will be able to take care of her husband AND son.
But now the former USC Trojans point guard will stay with a basketball team in Los Angeles.
Bronny’s only season of college basketball turned out to be a huge disappointment after he suffered a cardiac arrest while practicing in July 2023.
He was cleared to return to the court, but averaged just 19.4 minutes in 25 games for the Trojans, while scoring just 4.8 points per outing.
There was a lot of debate in the lead-up to this year’s draft about whether or not LeBron’s son was ready to take on the NBA.
But the Lakers decided they had seen enough and drafted the teenager anyway despite his limited college experience and stats.