The Los Angeles Lakers will have a ton on their plate this season. One of their top priorities will be the future Hall of Famer and four-time champion, LeBron James.
More NBA news:Lakers Superstar LeBron James' Plans Revealed Ahead of Impending Free Agency: Report
James could be a free agent this offseason; however, he holds a player option in his contract. According to ESPN's Shams Charania, the expectation is that James will likely opt in to his $52.6 million player option.
That doesn't spell good news for the Lakers as they would be limited in what they could do in free agency. Nonetheless, this free agency class isn't strong, which gives James more reason to opt in. The likely scenario is that the Lakers will make one or two trades to bolster their roster.
A lot can and will happen this summer, but if James chooses to take a pay cut, that could help the Lakers somewhat.
According to Kevin Pelton of ESPN, James taking a pay cut could allow the Lakers to access their non-taxpayer midlevel exception.
"On the flip side, another James discount might allow the Lakers access to their non-taxpayer midlevel exception if they want to target a starting big man. Still an easy All-NBA pick at age 40, James clearly remains the top free agent on the market, having led these rankings in (deep breath) 2010, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018 and last year," wrote Pelton.
There are a handful of players whom the Lakers can sign to the MLE if James takes the pay cut, including Pacers star big man Myles Turner, Bucks' Brook Lopez, Hawks' Clint Capela, Bulls' Josh Giddey, and Hawks' Caris LeVert, among others.
The Lakers would love for that to be the case, but there also is a chance that James and the Lakers know something we don't. It is possible they have something up their sleeve, as it is clear they have a glaring hole in their roster: the center position.
Despite continuing to play at an exceptional level, James opting into his contract could create serious cap challenges for the Lakers. Allocating that kind of money to a player set to turn 41 next season may limit the front office's ability to assemble a legitimate championship-caliber roster.
Still, the four-time NBA MVP remains incredibly productive. He's coming off a season where he was named to the All-NBA Second Team after averaging 24.4 points, 8.2 assists, 7.8 rebounds, and 1.0 steals per game—helping lead Los Angeles to a 50-32 finish and the No. 3 seed in the ultra-competitive Western Conference.
It's not the end of the world for L.A. if James takes the money; however, he could do the Lakers a favor by taking the pay cut.
More NBA news:Lakers Receive Stern Warning Amid Austin Reaves Trade Rumors
For more Los Angeles Lakers and general NBA news, head over to Newsweek Sports.
Related Articles
Lakers Could Be in Position to Land Perfect Luka Doncic Co-Star
Lakers Receive Stern Warning Amid Austin Reaves Trade Rumors
Lakers Superstar LeBron James' Plans Revealed Ahead of Impending Free Agency: Report
Lakers Trade Rumors Spark Fiery Reaction From Austin Reaves' Agent
2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
This story was originally published May 28, 2025 at 1:16 PM.