LeBron James and the Lakers agreed to a two-year contract on Wednesday that includes a no-trade clause and a player option for next season at or near the max, a sign that his willingness to take a significant pay cut to help the team build a better roster has expired.
According to people with knowledge of the discussions but not authorized to speak publicly, the Lakers and James’ representatives are discussing the possibility of taking money off the two-year, $104 million contract to keep the Lakers under the “second apron” for the team’s salaries.
If that $188.9 million mark were to be exceeded, the Lakers’ ability to expand their roster would be severely limited by restrictions on the types of deals the team can make, including adding players during the season.
Whether it’s through James’ contract or some other restructuring of the deal, a person familiar with the Lakers’ situation but not authorized to speak publicly said the team will eventually end up under the second platform.
Read more: Plaschke: Give the kid a chance! Bronny James feels like he’s in trouble for no reason
The Lakers, who currently have a full roster of 15 players, would have to cut salary elsewhere to acquire players through sign-and-trades.
James had told the Lakers he would be willing to take a significant pay cut if the team could use the full mid-level exception or a sign-and-trade to acquire a meaningful piece. The Lakers went to bat for Klay Thompson on the first night of free agency and, despite offering him more years and money, lost him to the Dallas Mavericks.
James, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, surprised some around the league with his first concession, breaking with the widespread perception that he would try to maximize his value with every contract (one reason the Lakers were always seen as the heavy favorite to retain him).
But when the team announced its two draft picks on Tuesday, first-round pick Dalton Knecht and second-round pick Bronny James, some within the organization felt like it was inevitable that LeBron James would make the cut.
The team has yet to make any free-agency acquisitions this summer, with D’Angelo Russell, Jaxson Hayes, Christian Wood and Cam Reddish all exercising their player options to return to the Lakers. Max Christie re-signed for four years and $32 million to avoid restricted free agency.
Read more: Hope for the Future: Lakers Introduce Dalton Knecht and Bronny James
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This story originally appeared in the Los Angeles Times.
