RealGM

LeBron James intends to sign a two-year, $104 million max deal with the Los Angeles Lakers. James deal also reportedly includes a player option and a no-trade clause.

Before NBA free agency opened, James indicated to the Lakers that he'd be willing to take less than his max salary. The idea was for Los Angeles to open up flexibility to add a player via using the full Non-Taxpayer MLE or through a sign-and-trade. Either option would have triggered a hard-cap at the first apron, so James was willing to take less to help his team come in under the apron.

Those options are now off the table. With James in the fold for the max, the Lakers are now over the first apron, and will be over the second apron once they sign Bronny James to a standard NBA contract.

The Lakers can still make trades, but will face second apron restrictions where they can't aggregate players together in deals. They also won't be able to take back more salary than they send out in a trade.

Via Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

He gave them like 3 days, good lord. I'm certain there's still a number of scenarios where they could have used that money to improve. Weird choice, but money is money.

Jeanie Buss- Let's milk LeBron as long as possible for some sweet sweet dough (as disgusting as that sounds)

Dr. Jerry Buss in rolling in a grave.

This team really seems to be Lebrons playground now. Going into the second apron to sign Bronny? Seems like the right move.

I knew Lebron wasn't going to actually take a discount for the Lakers. He hasn't done it his entire career, why would he start now? Money is #1 for him.

I've been a Lebron fan forever, but this is an absolutely terrible look. All he had to do was peel back $3M and that would have opened up enough room to pay Bronny and stay under the second apron.

On the other hand, Max Christie isn't a Klutch client.

Barcs wrote:I knew Lebron wasn't going to actually take a discount for the Lakers. He hasn't done it his entire career, why would he start now? Money is #1 for him.

I'm no fan of Bron and will rejoice when he's finally away from the Lakers.

But, none of that changes that he very clearly took less than his full max when he joined with Wade and Bosh in Miami.

All 3 of them took the same amount less than max to make that deal happen.

Barcs wrote:I knew Lebron wasn't going to actually take a discount for the Lakers. He hasn't done it his entire career, why would he start now? Money is #1 for him.

Miami Lebron says you need to learn more basketball history.

LeBron James has a net worth north or $1.2 billion. I can't speak for his expenditures, but if he was serious about assembling a team to put him in a position to win another championship, he would of accepted far less money to do so.

TheCage4 wrote:LeBron James has a net worth north or $1.2 billion. I can't speak for his expenditures, but if he was serious about assembling a team to put him in a position to win another championship, he would of accepted far less money to do so.

Nobody wanted to come..

Barcs wrote:I knew Lebron wasn't going to actually take a discount for the Lakers. He hasn't done it his entire career, why would he start now? Money is #1 for him.

Google is your friend... That, or just sitting one out.

TheCage4 wrote:LeBron James has a net worth north or $1.2 billion. I can't speak for his expenditures, but if he was serious about assembling a team to put him in a position to win another championship, he would of accepted far less money to do so.

So you want the player to take a pay cut, which he did so the Lakers could stay under the 2nd tax apron but no shame on the Owner, Jeanie for not spending money to win? Go take a look at the lakers moves after the 2020/2021 season… now look at what Boston is spending to win over the past two seasons…

YourGM99 wrote:

TheCage4 wrote:LeBron James has a net worth north or $1.2 billion. I can't speak for his expenditures, but if he was serious about assembling a team to put him in a position to win another championship, he would of accepted far less money to do so.

So you want the player to take a pay cut, which he did so the Lakers could stay under the 2nd tax apron but no shame on the Owner, Jeanie for not spending money to win? Go take a look at the lakers moves after the 2020/2021 season… now look at what Boston is spending to win over the past two seasons…

I could be wrong, but didn’t Jr.’s contract just put them over the second apron?