-
By Dave McMenamin, ESPN staff writer
For the first time in more than a decade, LeBron James will be playing for less than his eligible maximum, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, allowing the Los Angeles Lakers to avoid salary-cap restrictions that could affect future team construction.
The Lakers announced Saturday that James signed a two-year contract extension worth $101.35 million, giving him his 23rd season in the league and passing Vince Carter’s career record of 22. The contract is about $2.7 million less than the maximum value of $104 million, according to sources.
The contract includes a second-year player option, allowing the 39-year-old James to use his veteran status to play two consecutive years with one guaranteed year, granting him a default no-trade clause.
James’ agent, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports, told ESPN last week that James was willing to take a salary cut and free up his $12.9 million mid-level exception to help L.A. acquire an “impact player” in free agency. That offer fell through when the Lakers were unable to acquire Klay Thompson of the Golden State Warriors or DeMar DeRozan of the Chicago Bulls using the mid-level exception or in a trade package, sources told ESPN.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Thompson was traded to the Dallas Mavericks on Monday, while DeRozan was traded to the Sacramento Kings on Saturday night.
Marks’ sources said James’ salary would allow the Lakers to avoid a $45,000 second apron, which would allow the Lakers to avoid having their 2032 first-round pick frozen in a trade next summer as a penalty for their total salary being so far over the salary cap.
Lakers vice president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka addressed the punitive nature of the league’s new collective bargaining agreement during the introductory press conference earlier this week for James’ eldest son, Bronny, who was selected 55th overall by Los Angeles in the NBA draft.
“We’re in an apron world right now,” Pelinka said. “We’ve seen championship contenders and championship-caliber teams have to lose players. That’s the result of the apron world we live in. Does that make trades more difficult? Yes. Does it make good trades impossible? No. So we’re going to continue to pursue adding depth.”
If L.A.’s total roster compensation for the 2024-25 season exceeds $190 million, the Lakers would not be able to recoup more salary than they paid in a trade, closing off any potential deals that don’t fall under the strict math, another penalty associated with the second apron.
James has only taken a pay cut once in his career, when he signed a two-year, $68.6 million deal with the Miami Heat in 2010. The remaining $15 million was used to help the Heat’s front office put together a team that went on to reach four straight Finals and win two championships.
