RealGM

Ill offer this idea for LeBron to have flexbility to chose a team while still making at least $40 million next season + exemption money from new team as WIzards cut more expiring salary

To Los Angeles
-Kris Middleton (1 year, $33.3 million)
-Richaun Holmes (1 year, $13.3 million)
-2nd round pick via Pelicans from CJ McCollum trade

To Washington
-LeBron James (1 year, $52.4 million; accept buyout of $40 million)

Why?
-The value to the Wizards is the save $6.4 million in cash for upcoming season while opening up 2 roster spots to create more flexibility to add youth as they are clearly looking to tank for 2025-26 season

Smart/Carrington/Johnson
McCollum/George/Johnson
Kispert/Riley/Jones
Sarr/Coulibali/FA?
Olynyk/FA?/FA?

-The Lakers get a veteran wing in Kris Middleton whom can start and a backup big in Holmes. LeBron gets the balance of betting 85% of what he was owed with opportunity to select a team of his choice for exemption money.

Doncic/Vincent/Goodwin/James
Reaves/Milton
MIddleton/Knecht/FA?
Hachimura/Vanderbilt/LaRavia/Kleber
Ayton/Holmes

LA can do much better than this in a scenario where they part with Lebron.

This is not a thing unless LeBron just goes nuclear on the Lakers which would tarnish his legacy....so not happening.

Texas Chuck wrote:LA can do much better than this in a scenario where they part with Lebron.

Perhaps Lakers would want a 1st for LBJ + expirings but I can't see any team doing so. In this case maybe Washington adds another 2nd given they save over $6 million cash.

psman2 wrote:This is not a thing unless LeBron just goes nuclear on the Lakers which would tarnish his legacy....so not happening.

Well I guess the question is if LeBron ring chases elsewhere and wins a 5th, is that going to tarnish his legacy?

Bentley1225 wrote:Ill offer this idea for LeBron to have flexbility to chose a team while still making at least $40 million next season + exemption money from new team as WIzards cut more expiring salary

To Los Angeles
-Kris Middleton (1 year, $33.3 million)
-Richaun Holmes (1 year, $13.3 million)
-2nd round pick via Pelicans from CJ McCollum trade

To Washington
-LeBron James (1 year, $52.4 million; accept buyout of $40 million)

Why?
-The value to the Wizards is the save $6.4 million in cash for upcoming season while opening up 2 roster spots to create more flexibility to add youth as they are clearly looking to tank for 2025-26 season

Smart/Carrington/Johnson
McCollum/George/Johnson
Kispert/Riley/Jones
Sarr/Coulibali/FA?
Olynyk/FA?/FA?

-The Lakers get a veteran wing in Kris Middleton whom can start and a backup big in Holmes. LeBron gets the balance of betting 85% of what he was owed with opportunity to select a team of his choice for exemption money.

Doncic/Vincent/Goodwin/James
Reaves/Milton
MIddleton/Knecht/FA?
Hachimura/Vanderbilt/LaRavia/Kleber
Ayton/Holmes

I have been suspended from this board for offering much better than this in the Trades and Transactions area!

Texas Chuck wrote:LA can do much better than this in a scenario where they part with Lebron.

No they can't. This is his value once you take Lebron's age and his no trade clause into consideration. Nobody is giving up meaningful assets or quality players for a almost 41 year old Lebron James.

Can't see the Wiz giving up draft capital and the leadership of Kris Middleton for nothing. And Holmes can just be waived and save more than this, his contract isn't guaranteed.

facothomas22 wrote:

Texas Chuck wrote:LA can do much better than this in a scenario where they part with Lebron.

No they can't. This is his value once you take Lebron's age and his no trade clause into consideration. Nobody is giving up meaningful assets or quality players for a almost 41 year old Lebron James.

They could simply buy him out themselves if you are right (you are not) and not take back negative players. So yes they can do better than this.

But also its Lebron James. Some of you focus so blindly on age, you miss whats real. Lebron James has value. On court value, but also massive off-court value and adding credibility to a franchise. I assure you if he was offered to trade league wide the Lakers would get real value back.

They won't do that of course because he's Lebron and he would only go where he wanted, but again it would be better than some players not worth their contracts because that's silly.

The premise of this deal is flawed because Richaun Holmes' contract is only guaranteed for $500K. If the Wizards do nothing at all and buy out Holmes, they get Middleton for a year and their total cap hit is $33.8M. By doing this deal, they have to pay $40M for Lebron's buyout and they don't even have the tangible benefit of Middleton actually playing this year (and possibly being used in a midseason trade).

I'm mildly fascinated by LBJ's trade value. I'm lower on it than Chuck. There are tangible box office benefits, but there's a downside as well. He very much wants to be a partner with the front office with all that entails. While it was worth enduring that dynamic at his peak, it's not something that every team is going to want to deal with at 41. I'm also skeptical that every playoff team will want to part with $50M in contracts required to execute the trade. Most playoff teams don't have $50M in contracts that are unwanted. At least some of that salary match is going to hurt.

That said, there are always teams that are desperate or older and have shrinking windows. He'll have a market.

I’d laugh if Wizards just go “SURPRISE! We are keeping him! Get your season tickets!”

Then imagine the marketing posters of him and Jordan in Wizards gear.

Myth wrote:I’d laugh if Wizards just go “SURPRISE! We are keeping him! Get your season tickets!”

Then imagine the marketing posters of him and Jordan in Wizards gear.

LeBron would retire and then come back later lol

facothomas22 wrote:No they can't. This is his value once you take Lebron's age and his no trade clause into consideration. Nobody is giving up meaningful assets or quality players for a almost 41 year old Lebron James.

At the very least, he's a $53M expiring contract. Lakers aren't taking back long-term money beyond 2 seasons.

Karmaloop wrote:

facothomas22 wrote:No they can't. This is his value once you take Lebron's age and his no trade clause into consideration. Nobody is giving up meaningful assets or quality players for a almost 41 year old Lebron James.

At the very least, he's a $53M expiring contract. Lakers aren't taking back long-term money beyond 2 seasons.

The Lakers wouldn't be taking on long term money in this trade. Both Middleton and Holmes are expiring contracts.

HornetJail wrote:

Myth wrote:I’d laugh if Wizards just go “SURPRISE! We are keeping him! Get your season tickets!”

Then imagine the marketing posters of him and Jordan in Wizards gear.

LeBron would retire and then come back later lol

Then he doesn’t get his salary.