Woj/Shams: LeBron signs extension with Lakers. 2 years and $97M

[Slava]

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[JVL]

As a Lebron fan I'm obviously happy. As a Lakers fan this is a lot of money for a 38 year old man at the start of the league, even if he is Lebron James.

[SlimShady83]

Another 2 years OMG ...

[fteru6uhre54ew]

Goodnees gracious. Pelinka or Jeanie Buss or both are a pair of terrorists

[Kilroy]

Pelinka and Jeannie want LeBron to 'Retire as a Laker'...

The question is, does Lebron care where he retires? Is LeBron going to shower praises on the Lakers on his way out, or is it more likely all he's going to talk about is LeBron... Isn't it pretty obvious he still reps Cleveland the most?

Aside from that, it's not the end of the world... It's not like he was going anywhere anyway. It could have been 4yrs.

[Ball so hard]

I think we could not have offered more than two years at the max per CBA. This restriction probably saved us from ourselves.

On another note I was hoping we’d move on from Lebron. Great player, but he sure can wear down a fan base rather quickly.

[MAMBAEMD]

I think that this is a very solid basketball , as well as business move for the Lakers.

From a basketball perspective, he had a 30/8/6 season last year, and played 37 minutes a game. So clearly, he is still at the top of his game.

From a business viewpoint, he will definitely be a huge draw this year, specially chasing Kareem's scoring record.

Lastly, this is a powerful message that the Lakers FO is sending to future FAs that they are willing to pay, reward, and honor those who are willing to play for the P &G.

[wco81]

I think that this is a very solid basketball , as well as business move for the Lakers.

From a basketball perspective, he had a 30/8/6 season last year, and played 37 minutes a game. So clearly, he is still at the top of his game.

From a business viewpoint, he will definitely be a huge draw this year, specially chasing Kareem's scoring record.

Lastly, this is a powerful message that the Lakers FO is sending to future FAs that they are willing to pay, reward, and honor those who are willing to play for the P &G.

Didn't they send that message with the $50 million deal for Kobe at the end of his career when he was clearly not the same player he used to be?

That said, probably true they will sell more tickets than they would without Lebron, though he still would have played for the Lakers this season without the extension.

But he sells a lot of jerseys too and the team gets all that money.

Question is did he get assurances that they will try to improve the roster, even if it means probably trading those FRPs? Because they won't have a max cap slot next summer. It sounds like if he waited until a year from now to sign the extension, Lakers might have been able to add a max free agent, though it's not clear if there will be anyone available worth signing.

[Ball so hard]

I think that this is a very solid basketball , as well as business move for the Lakers.

From a basketball perspective, he had a 30/8/6 season last year, and played 37 minutes a game. So clearly, he is still at the top of his game.

From a business viewpoint, he will definitely be a huge draw this year, specially chasing Kareem's scoring record.

Lastly, this is a powerful message that the Lakers FO is sending to future FAs that they are willing to pay, reward, and honor those who are willing to play for the P &G.

Didn't they send that message with the $50 million deal for Kobe at the end of his career when he was clearly not the same player he used to be?

That said, probably true they will sell more tickets than they would without Lebron, though he still would have played for the Lakers this season without the extension.

But he sells a lot of jerseys too and the team gets all that money.

Question is did he get assurances that they will try to improve the roster, even if it means probably trading those FRPs? Because they won't have a max cap slot next summer. It sounds like if he waited until a year from now to sign the extension, Lakers might have been able to add a max free agent, though it's not clear if there will be anyone available worth signing.

Agree with your post. The answer to your question is an emphatic yes. Of course they’ll do everything including selling the future to contend while Lebron is on the roster. This is primarily why I wanted Lebron off the team. Best believe nothing is off the table when it comes to building a team to Lebron’s liking. Personally I do not think Lebron + AD core will win another championship.

[MAMBAEMD]

I think that this is a very solid basketball , as well as business move for the Lakers.

From a basketball perspective, he had a 30/8/6 season last year, and played 37 minutes a game. So clearly, he is still at the top of his game.

From a business viewpoint, he will definitely be a huge draw this year, specially chasing Kareem's scoring record.

Lastly, this is a powerful message that the Lakers FO is sending to future FAs that they are willing to pay, reward, and honor those who are willing to play for the P &G.

Didn't they send that message with the $50 million deal for Kobe at the end of his career when he was clearly not the same player he used to be?

That said, probably true they will sell more tickets than they would without Lebron, though he still would have played for the Lakers this season without the extension.

But he sells a lot of jerseys too and the team gets all that money.

Question is did he get assurances that they will try to improve the roster, even if it means probably trading those FRPs? Because they won't have a max cap slot next summer. It sounds like if he waited until a year from now to sign the extension, Lakers might have been able to add a max free agent, though it's not clear if there will be anyone available worth signing.

Yes they did. In fact I meant to put that in my post too. The Kobe deal at the time made little sense basketball wise but I think it set the stage for getting people like LBJ and AD.

As far as the message having already been sent, yes.
But, as a business, it isn't something you can afford to do just once or twice.
It is a way of doing things that has to be re-enforced on a regular basis.

This is reputational, and the Laker FO clearly has a reputation of taking care of their own.

They haven't always made good basketball decisions, but success in the NBA is complex and needs more than just talent.
It needs loyalty and culture.

I also have no doubt that they made assurances that they would do everything they could to improve the roster.
That's partially to appease LBJ, but it is more about wanting to win.

They are in a win-now mode with having AD and LBJ. They will do everything they can to give them a chance to win.

[wco81]

I don't think it's an overpay for Lebron if you assume he will perform around the same level for the next 2-3 seasons as his last 2-3 seasons, despite advanced age.

That is, if he hit the free agency market, he was going to get a very high salary assuming teams had the cap space and was interested in arguably still a top 5 player.

There is an injury risk with older players even though Lebron has never suffered a serious injury in his career. But in his 20th season, that has to be a consideration as well as usage rate.

OTOH, he's just a cyborg and few people are going to contest him when he drives so he'll continue to be an effective scorer and get some relatively easy baskets.

[LAL1947]

I think that this is a very solid basketball , as well as business move for the Lakers.

From a basketball perspective, he had a 30/8/6 season last year, and played 37 minutes a game. So clearly, he is still at the top of his game.

From a business viewpoint, he will definitely be a huge draw this year, specially chasing Kareem's scoring record.

Lastly, this is a powerful message that the Lakers FO is sending to future FAs that they are willing to pay, reward, and honor those who are willing to play for the P &G.

It's a good business move (breaking Kareem's record while at Lakers, fills seats for 2 more seasons)... but I do not think it's a good basketball move, unless they trade him to get assets back. Lakers held on to Shaq for too long too and only got Odom when they finally traded him. Kobe played for too long too, but that was understandable since he was our guy. Lebron gotta go to help start the rebuild.

[MAMBAEMD]

I think that this is a very solid basketball , as well as business move for the Lakers.

From a basketball perspective, he had a 30/8/6 season last year, and played 37 minutes a game. So clearly, he is still at the top of his game.

From a business viewpoint, he will definitely be a huge draw this year, specially chasing Kareem's scoring record.

Lastly, this is a powerful message that the Lakers FO is sending to future FAs that they are willing to pay, reward, and honor those who are willing to play for the P &G.

It's a good business move (breaking Kareem's record while at Lakers, keeps butts in seats for 2 more seasons)... but I do not think it's a good basketball move, unless they trade him to get assets back. Lakers held on to Shaq for too long too and only got Odom when they finally traded him. Kobe played for too long too, but that was excusable since he was our guy. Lebron gotta go to help start the rebuild.

I hear you.
Their strategy is to go all-in to try to win now, which will be a very uphill battle.
Also with the 15% trade kicker in his contract(I'm pretty sure I heard it's there), it will be nearly impossible to trade him.

[LAKESHOW]

Lakers pay the Stars. We had to. It Sends the message throughout the league. He draws other star players. He delivered the Championship. Ensures that a Laker will break Kareems record

[TheHartBreakKid]

I think that this is a very solid basketball , as well as business move for the Lakers.

From a basketball perspective, he had a 30/8/6 season last year, and played 37 minutes a game. So clearly, he is still at the top of his game.

From a business viewpoint, he will definitely be a huge draw this year, specially chasing Kareem's scoring record.

Lastly, this is a powerful message that the Lakers FO is sending to future FAs that they are willing to pay, reward, and honor those who are willing to play for the P &G.

Didn't they send that message with the $50 million deal for Kobe at the end of his career when he was clearly not the same player he used to be?

That said, probably true they will sell more tickets than they would without Lebron, though he still would have played for the Lakers this season without the extension.

But he sells a lot of jerseys too and the team gets all that money.

Question is did he get assurances that they will try to improve the roster, even if it means probably trading those FRPs? Because they won't have a max cap slot next summer. It sounds like if he waited until a year from now to sign the extension, Lakers might have been able to add a max free agent, though it's not clear if there will be anyone available worth signing.

They did send that message, and that has a lot to do with why Lebron (and AD afterwards) became Lakers, and why there is another banner in the arena.

This is a message you have to repeat. It's not a one time only type of deal.

[Landsberger]

More about eyeballs than winning IMHO. I don’t see a true shot at a tile without some lightening striking…. A few times. We’ll trade everything of value however to get a Bron-Buddy at the end of his career however. CP3 will be here for sure.

[LAKESHOW]

Exactly. We need to fill the seats

[wco81]

Exactly. We need to fill the seats

Well the owners do.

Also they probably want big local TV ratings too.

Thing is Lebron had a great season statistically last year.

But consider his last year in Cleveland when he dragged that team to the Finals by himself.

Nobody on that team was anywhere near as good as AD.

Lebron may be able to put up big numbers and occasionally carry the team to wins. But the days of carrying a team throughout the playoffs may be over.


But say the Lakers struggle in attendance and local TV ratings, while either just getting in the playoffs or missing it.

Maybe that will prod the Buss family into going into the luxury tax?

If attendance and ratings are still good, why wouldn't the Lakers keep making decisions like letting Caruso walk to save on luxury taxes or avoiding them?

Say one of their young players, like Walker or Reaves have huge years, like they're in a position to command a contract worth over $15 or $20 million a year, multiple years. Or someone like Christie really develops and could attract offers over $10 million a year and multiple years in the free agency period in 2024.

Would the Lakers pay them?

If these players are in line to make that kind of money, the Laker probably will have great seasons the next two years. Maybe not winning it all but one of the top 4 teams in the WC or the league.

[stan francisco]

So, we have to wait at least two years for miles to come back here to post?

[Ballerhogger]

This cements him retiring as laker ?