A two-year, $50 million contract featuring a player option for the second season and a no-trade clause was proposed by Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times as a potential framework for the next deal between LeBron James and the Lakers.
LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers are at a crossroads on what might be next for them heading into the offseason.
LeBron James
LeBron James
LeBron James
MIN: 33.9
PTS: 21.26 (56.52%)
REB: 6.16
AS: 7.21
ST: 1.21
BL: 0.53
TO: 3.1
GM: 70
The future Hall of Famer is slated to become an unrestricted free agent out of his expiring $52.6 million contract, and the Lakers have expressed a strong interest in bringing him back.
But what complicates both sides is their respective pursuit and demands. James, reportedly, will not entertain a massive discount or veteran's minimum in his next contract. And the possibility of signing the 41-year-old to yet another significant deal would pose issues in the Lakers' cap and roster-building plans, most especially in signing Austin Reaves to a potential max contract.
Despite ongoing speculation and uncertainty around both sides, Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times proposed an intriguing contract structure that may benefit James and the Lakers: a two-year, $50 million deal with a player option on the second season and a no-trade clause.
"You know what? I'm going to throw this out there. He comes back on a two-year deal, at $25 million per season, with a player option and a no-trade clause," the Lakers reporter said.
"Therefore, now he gets his $50 million, just does not get it in one season. I'm negotiating the deal right there."
Weighing the needs and benefit of both sides, this appears to be an ideal contract framework already that LeBron and the Lakers might consider.
Although his salary will be reduced by over half, this would still give James the power to decide his next move. If the Lakers fail to win it all next year, he has the power to decide whether he would remain or not in LA and possibly join a new contending team through his player option and no-trade clause.
Narrative-wise and for the sake of his legacy before his career finally comes to an end, James will not be scapegoated if the Lakers fail to win a championship next year.
By taking the $50 million deal, he will not be branded as a self-centered franchise player who did not even consider sacrificing money for the team's depth.
On the Lakers' end, the team will absolutely earn a massive cap relief to sign complementary pieces and other roster needs around Luka Doncic.
"It gives him the option to leave if he wants to and go play somewhere else. That's his choice," Turner added about his contract proposal for James. " ... I'm just throwing it out there."
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