If the Los Angeles Lakers are to upgrade their roster this offseason while keeping LeBron James for at least one more year, James will, in all likelihood, have to agree to some sort of pay cut. He made $52.6 million this season, and there is no team he would seriously consider signing with that can or will offer him anything close to that.
In a perfect world, he would accept the veteran minimum salary, especially given the fact that he’s already reportedly worth $1 billion and could make up the difference by documenting a potential farewell tour. But according to NBA insider Jake Fischer, that will not happen (h/t Heavy Sports).
“Last Tuesday… I said that there were many people around the league who thought that LeBron should take a veteran minimum salary. It does not sound like that is actually in the cards at all. I wanna be very, very clear about that after some text messages and phone calls I received after sharing that sentiment.”
It is hard to imagine James, or any NBA superstar for that matter, going from making dozens of millions of dollars season after season to agreeing to the veteran minimum salary. If James were to accept the veteran minimum for next season, he would make roughly just under $4 million.
The Lakers could have up to approximately $50 million in salary cap space this summer. In addition to keeping James, they have other incumbent players about to become free agents they will want to retain, starting with Austin Reaves, who could command $40 million a year on his next contract.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Fischer: LeBron James will not accept veteran minimum salary
Reporting by Robert Marvi, LeBron Wire / LeBron Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
