At 39 and going into his 22nd season, LeBron James is asking for less.
On Sunday, the 20-time NBA All-Star agreed to play on a contract below the maximum level he was eligible to sign for the first time in over a decade, in an effort to help the Lakers avoid salary cap restrictions down the line, ESPN first reported.
James signed a two-year extension worth $101.35 million, though he could’ve inked a $104 million max deal, according to the outlet.
The deal, according to The Athletic, also comes with a player option and a 15 percent trade kicker.
James wants his pay cut to help the Lakers acquire an “impact player,” according to his agent, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports, but the team was unable to entice Klay Thompson or DeMar DeRozan in free agency with a midlevel exception or a trade package.
Thompson’s new home is now with the Mavericks, and ESPN reported Saturday night that DeRozan is going to the Kings on a three-year, $74 million sign-and-trade despite Los Angeles having interest.
According to The Athletic, Gary Trent Jr. and Spencer Dinwiddie are “two names to watch” if Los Angeles can shed enough money and use the taxpayer midlevel exception.
James opted out of the final year of his $51.4 million contract in June, and a week later, he decided to re-up with the Lakers after his son, Bronny James, went to the team as the No. 55 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.
The two will be the first father-son NBA duo to play on the same team at the same time.
The Lakers also avoided the 2023 collective bargaining agreement’s second apron — $17.5 million over the luxury tax threshold — by $45,000.
By avoiding that second apron, the Lakers avoid seeing their 2032 first-round pick getting frozen and being used in a trade during the 2025 offseason, ESPN reported.
James last took a pay cut in 2010 when joining the Heat on a two-year, $68.6 million contract, leaving $15 million for the front office to build the roster that took them to four consecutive NBA Finals appearances and two title wins.
