LeBron James is unlikely to take a discount in his upcoming Los Angeles Lakers contract negotiations: "This dude's trying to buy a team once he retires. I don't think he's just looking to give up money," the insider says.
Last offseason, Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James took less than the maximum amount in his two-year contract to provide the front office with more financial flexibility. However, it's unlikely he will do the same this summer.
"My assumption right now would be that if he does take a discount, it would be similar to last season where I think there would be some type of list or some type of caliber of player," The Athletic's Jovan Buha said on his latest podcast.
"I don't think LeBron is just going to take a willy-nilly discount," the insider added. "I don't think it would be for random player X, who, on paper, makes the team a little bit better but isn't of a certain caliber."
Last summer, James left nearly $3 million on the table to help the LA Lakers avoid the second tax apron, allowing them to use the extra funds to sign an impactful player.
The team aimed to land players like Klay Thompson, James Harden, Jonas Valanciunas, and DeMar DeRozan but ultimately fell short.
"I will make the prediction that I don't think LeBron takes a discount," Buha went on to say. "I think it would have to be with a certain player or need in mind that makes sense. For instance, if Naz Reid is willing to take the non-taxpayer MLE, I believe LeBron would consider it.
"Or if they're going do a signing trade kind of similar to what they were planning to do with Klay [Thompson], maybe LeBron considers that. Like, this dude's trying to buy a team once he retires. I don't think he's just looking to give up money, to be honest."
LeBron, who was a free agent last offseason, can become a free agent again in the summer of 2025 if he chooses.
Last summer, he signed a two-year, $101.3 million contract with the Lakers, which includes a player option for the 2025-26 season. He is earning $48.7 million this season and $52.6 million next season.
So far this season, the 40-year-old legend has averaged 24.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.7 assists per game.
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