LeBron James to take pay cut if Lakers land James Harden, Klay Thompson, or Jonas Valanciunas

LeBron James can wait until Los Angeles Lakers make moves to decide on his next contract.

LeBron James to take pay cut if Lakers land James Harden, Klay Thompson, or Jonas Valanciunas

LeBron James to take pay cut if Los Angeles Lakers land either of James Harden, Klay Thompson, or Jonas Valanciunas

Now that LeBron James is officially a free agent, how he works things out with the Los Angeles Lakers is what the basketball world will watch. Reports suggest he will most likely sign a new 3-year Max contract. However, other superstars are also free agents this off-season. It has now been revealed that the all-time scoring leader could take a pay cut if the Lakers could land either James Harden, Klay Thompson, or Jonas Valanciunas.

LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers’ performances over the past season have reiterated the fact that they need a third star. Therefore, ESPN’s Dave McMenamin reported that James has prioritized roster improvement. The likes of former Clipper James Harden are a likely target, someone who can share the scoring burden in the regular season. Harden’s playoff struggles are well-documented, but he can be negated if a well-rested James takes over in the playoffs.

YouTube video

Klay Thompson, on the other hand, can score off the ball. This makes the pairing intriguing, considering James is the predominant playmaker for the Lakers. Then comes Jonas Valanciunas. The New Orleans Pelicans star is not a scorer. However, he can be the primary rim protector, allowing Anthony Davis to take on a bigger offensive role from the 4 spot.

FS Video

If the Los Angeles Lakers can land either one of them, James will adjust his salary accordingly. However, if none of them come aboard, James will sign the 3-year $162 million Max deal waiting for him. Nevertheless, rumors suggest James hopes for a better roster to win another title.

LeBron James wants Lakers to put out the best roster possible

When initially there was talk surrounding LeBron James and his possible new Max contract, fans and the media went after him for not considering a pay cut. However, it seems that he declined his player option, and looking for roster improvements has been his priority all along. McMenamin quoted James’ agent, Rich Paul.

He is prioritizing a roster improvement. He's been adamant about exuding all efforts to improve the roster.
Dave McMenamin quoting Rich Paul via ESPN

It suggests that James wants the Lakers to assemble the best roster possible for his final few years. After all, he wants to maximize his seasons before bidding goodbye to the NBA. Therefore, it seems his focus has been to help the roster grow. Otherwise, he will again be forced to play 35 minutes per game like last season. That led to exhaustion in the 1st round playoffs.

If the Lakers want to go the full distance, they cannot have their leading superstar huffing and puffing five games into the post-season. Therefore, this is a golden opportunity for the Los Angeles Lakers. LeBron James is literally giving them an opportunity to help him and, in return, help themselves.

In case you missed: