The Los Angeles Lakers are not a true title contender, but Bill Simmons rightly points out that is because LeBron James is making $52.6 million and can’t compete at an elite level for nine straight months. He chose to opt in and immediately apply pressure. James wants the Lakers to be elite, but was unwilling to sacrifice to make it happen. The Lakers haven’t done themselves any favors in free agency, but that is partially on James making such a hefty number.
LeBron earns 34 percent of the Lakers cap this season with Luka at 29.7 percent. The franchise has just $56 million under the cap after paying their two superstars. James is the GOAT and deserves a maximum contract, but every penny matters under the new CBA. If he really wanted to compete for a championship, LeBron should have taken less to give his team more flexibility.
Simmons rightfully went after James for wanting it all. He had all the control in this situation. LeBron could have opted out and become a free agent. That opened the door to taking less money or playing elsewhere. He chose the $52.6 million and is now stuck with the Lakers.
LeBron James can’t make $52 million and expect the Lakers to make significant upgrades
Rob Pelinka and the front office tried to improve their roster in free agency. They signed Deandre Ayton and replaced Dorian Finney-Smith with Jake LaRavia. The Lakers had to gamble on the open market because they have just one first-round draft pick to trade. They are in this position after years of giving James what he wanted, which Simmons and Ryen Russillo point out later in the episode.
It is no longer LeBron’s team. The Lakers traded for Luka Doncic to be their superstar of the present and future. He is in his prime, and Los Angeles has shifted to building around him. It is the right move for the franchise. James is 41 years old and can’t play forever.
The all-time scoring leader must accept that. He can keep demanding every dollar from the Lakers, but it will limit their ability to contend. They must pay Luka Doncic, and Austin Reeves is about to get significantly more expensive. LeBron has to decide how he wants to end his career, but making $50-plus million per year will limit the any team's flexibility and ability to contend substantially.
The Los Angeles Lakers and LeBron James have difficult decisions to make. Is LeBron on the team next summer? Where does King James finish his career? Those are unanswerable questions, but Bill Simmons is right. LeBron can’t want every penny with the expectation that the Lakers are building a title contender around him. It just doesn’t work that way in the current salary cap climate. James must adjust, or he will continue to be disappointed.