If LeBron James signs a $50 million contract, Bill Simmons says the Lakers won’t win a championship.
After six years with the Los Angeles Lakers, LeBron James may decide to sign a free agent contract this summer, putting the team in a precarious situation. According to Bill Simmons, the Lakers would undervalue their prospects of winning with James on a max contract and Anthony Davis, who signed last summer, also on a max contract. James is allegedly seeking a three-year, $160 million extension.
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“It basically means they won’t win another title and he’s going to be stuck at four, that’s it, if he wants to win another title and he takes like $50 million a year when Davis is already getting $50 million a year.”
By bringing up LeBron’s win-loss record during the previous two seasons while he was active and his comparatively low net rating, Simmons makes some important points. With an average of 25.3 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 8.0 assists this season, James is having a healthy season. Even Anthony Davis, who averages 24.8 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game, has been healthier and more accessible than James.
The $186 million, three-year agreement Davis has signed will begin at the conclusion of the 2024–25 campaign.
The Lakers, who are now trapped at No. 9, are in the running for the No. 6 seed despite the efforts of their two stars. With LeBron and AD, this might be their third Play-In appearance, which suggests that the club isn’t truly designed for long-term success. The team will probably be forced to stick with its current squad if James re-signs on a max contract unless they make transactions that give up depth for star power.
Lakers’ Expected Future Wage Is Obsessed
After dealing Russell Westbrook for players with expiring contracts, including D’Angelo Russell, Rui Hachimura, and Malik Beasley, the Lakers were able to generate free cap room this summer. Austin Reaves also got a lucrative extension, and Russell and Hachimura have already been re-signed. If D’Lo exercises his $18 million player option, the three would earn a combined total of approximately $48.5 million the following season. The Lakers won’t have the room to match his outgoing salary, so they’ll probably have to re-sign him if he doesn’t.
Jarred Vanderbilt will receive $10.1 million the next season after securing an extension this season. The Lakers would surpass the $141 million salary cap with just these six players if LeBron were to accept his $51.4 million player option and AD were to earn $43.3 million.
Future draft picks, trades, and free agent acquisitions will be limited if they add players with higher salary, such as Gabe Vincent, Jalen Hood-Schifino, Max Christie, Taurean Prince, and more rotating players.
In order to strengthen their rotation, the Lakers may pool some of their mid-range rotational salaries for a third player and hope to find a good deal on the minimum market. Although players like Donovan Mitchell and Trae Young have been linked, the asset-strapped Lakers will have difficulty completing these trades.
The organization would have far more flexibility in roster construction if LeBron were to re-sign for a reduced price and accept a contract of $25 million or less, as James would be the third-highest paid player in the event that a star is added. That would be an excellent value contract and more manageable.
Should LeBron accept a reduced price to compete for a different championship. He would be made fun of by others. People will call him greedy if he doesn’t. James will be closely watched for the choice he made considering his age, even if his play would earn any player a maximum contract in the NBA. The Lakers risk losing what is possibly the biggest commercial asset in the NBA at the moment if they don’t give him what he wants. The Lakers have a busy offseason ahead of them since LeBron can use his desire to play alongside his son as a negotiating chip.