LeBron James could be entering his final season with the Los Angeles Lakers. He exercised his $52.6 million player option for next season after the Lakers didn't approach him about an extension. His agent, Rich Paul, made it clear that LeBron wants to contend for a title, but LA is no longer [operating on his timeline](https://lakeshowlife.com/lakers-made-stance-lebron-james-crystal-clear).
If LeBron leaves the Lakers next summer to sign with a new team in hopes of winning one last championship before he retires (whenever that might be), he'll need to take a considerable pay cut. Teams poised to win a championship don't have the cap space to give him a lot of money. LeBron is LeBron, but there is risk in giving a 41-year-old a big contract, anyway.
The Athletic reported that Los Angeles and LeBron didn't discuss a trade or a buyout this offseason, but even if he did approach the Lakers about a trade, one would've been challenging. A midseason trade would be hard if things go south quickly. It's not easy to absorb a salary that high, especially when the CBA rules the NBA landscape.
Lebron will have to take a pay cut next summer if he continues playing
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For 10 years, LeBron wouldn't budge on taking less than the maximum amount of money he could make, but that changed last summer. He told the Lakers he'd take a pay cut if they improved the roster, but after they whiffed on Klay Thompson, he rescinded that offer.
No fan can blame LeBron for going after every penny he's worth, and that trend could continue next offseason if he continues to play at the level he did last season. If his desire to win another title overrides his desire for one more hefty payday, he'll need to compromise.
There has been a lot of chatter about LeBron [going to Golden State](https://lakeshowlife.com/lebron-james-only-path-leaving-lakers-for-warriors-painfully-obvious), uniting with Steph Curry. LeBron's favorite place to play is MSG, and he loves New York. As mentioned, a homecoming in Cleveland could be in the cards. If he winds up on any of those three teams, it won't be on a deal close to the one he signed last offseason. Adding another trophy to his case would be worth it, though.
That kind of speculation will be put on the back burner once the season starts, as the Lakers could be better than people think they'll be. Winning a title in LA is LeBron's priority right now, but as NBA fans know all too well, his future will dominate headlines all season long.