LeBron James Stays With Lakers, But Pay Cut Rumors Persist

Photo: Instagram/LeBron James

On Wednesday morning, it was announced that LeBron James has signed a two-year maximum contract with the Los Angeles Lakers. This deal includes a player option for the second year, effectively allowing LeBron to reassess his future with the team each season.

Earlier speculation suggested that LeBron might take a pay cut to help the Lakers add more players through trades or exceptions. However, with this full max contract, the Lakers are now about $1.2 million over the "second apron," a financial threshold that imposes strict limits on team spending and player additions.

Sources say the Lakers and LeBron’s team are discussing the possibility of reducing his two-year, $104 million contract to stay under this threshold. Crossing the $188.9 million mark would restrict the Lakers' ability to make trades and add players during the season.

Photo: Instagram/LeBron James

To avoid this, the Lakers might consider other options like trading players with minimum contracts, such as Cam Reddish or Christian Wood. However, if the team wants to keep a full 15-man roster, LeBron taking a slight pay cut could be the solution.

Meanwhile, LeBron's son, Bronny James, addressed questions about playing alongside his father during his introductory press conference. Despite the added pressure, Bronny aims to focus on his own career and make a name for himself independently.

Read Next: Brian Ortega Speaks Out After Dropping Out of UFC 303 Fight

Source: Lakers Nation 

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