BREAKING NEWS: Bill Simmons says if LeBron James signs a $50 million contract, 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.
“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 good campaign. 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
The Lakers managed to create free cap space this summer after trading Russell Westbrook away for expiring contracts like D’Angelo Russell, Rui Hachimura, and Malik Beasley. Russell and Hachimura have already been re-signed, while Austin Reaves also received a big-money extension. The three would combined for over $48.5 million next season, provided D’Lo accepts his $18 million player option. If he doesn’t, the Lakers likely will have to re-sign him as they don’t have the space to replace his outgoing salary.
Jarred Vanderbilt also secured an extension this season, earning $10.1 million next season. If LeBron theoretically accepted his $51.4 million player option along with AD making $43.3 million, the Lakers would be over the $141 million salary cap with just these six players.
Additional salaries like Gabe Vincent, Jalen Hood-Schifino, Max Christie, Taurean Prince, and more rotational players will likely take them close to being a second apron team, which restricts future draft picks, trades, and free agent acqusitions.
The Lakers could aggregate some of their mid-range rotational salaries for a third player and hope they can find value on the minimum market to bolster their rotation. Players like Trae Young and Donovan Mitchell have been linked, but they’ll be challenging deals for an asset-strapped Lakers to pull off.
If LeBron was to re-sign on a discount and take just $25 million or lesser, the team has a lot more room to navigate roster building with James slotting in as the third-highest paid player if another star is acquired. That’s more manageable and would be a fantastic value contract.
If LeBron was to take a discount to contend for another title. people would mock him. If he doesn’t, people will call him greedy. Even though his play would get any player a max contract in the NBA, James will be scrutinized for the decision given his age. If the Lakers don’t offer what he wants, they lose arguably the biggest commercial asset in the NBA right now. LeBron has the bargaining chip of wanting to play with his son as well, so the Lakers have a huge offseason ahead.
GET RELATED CONTENTS ON: BLACKSPORTNEWS.CO.UK