LeBron James electing to opt out and re-sign with the Los Angeles Lakers could strategically create an opportunity to target the mid-level pieces to strengthen their roster and enhance their chances of competing for an NBA championship.
James has opted out of his $51.4 million player option, a move widely anticipated. The decision sets the stage for James to sign a new deal with Los Angeles, ensuring his continued presence with the franchise that recently drafted his son, Bronny, with the 55th overall pick in the second draft round.
James's strategic move is expected to provide the Lakers with financial flexibility, allowing them to utilize the full midlevel exception. By doing so, the team can target key additions to bolster their roster and enhance their championship possibilities.
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Last season, the Lakers allocated $10.5 million to sign Gabe Vincent and $1.55 million to bring Spencer Dinwiddie on board. Looking ahead, some of the NBA's available midlevel exception players include seasoned veterans like Klay Thompson, DeMar DeRozan, and Jonas Valanciunas, as well as versatile wings such as Gary Harris and Caleb Martin.
Some potential signings from the names above could significantly bolster the Lakers roster, providing the depth and experience needed for another championship run. The Lakers are reportedly eyeing Chris Paul, who will turn 40 in 2025 when he becomes a free agent.
Paul recently agreed to move the guaranteed date for the $30 million on his 2024-25 contract to the start of free agency on Sunday. The move has prompted the Warriors to engage multiple teams in trade discussions for Paul. There's even speculation that they could waive the 12-time All-Star, allowing them to enter free agency $31 million below the $171.3 million luxury tax threshold.
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In 2014, James' representation vowed that he would never accept less than a maximum NBA contract, which at the time was approximately $22.2 million per year. This decision set a standard for players and encouraged them to aspire to the highest compensation levels. If the Lakers use the full mid-level exception, it would limit their total team salary to the "first apron," projected to be $178,655,000. The first apron is a salary cap line that teams can't exceed if they use certain exceptions to sign players.
Currently, the Lakers have $127,338,024 tied to 11 players on their roster. That includes rotational cornerpieces Anthony Davis, Austin Raves, and D'Angelo Russell, who recently announced his decision to opt into the last year of his deal with the Lakers, valued at $18.7 million.
Russell said that hiring JJ Redick as the team's head coach was a major factor in his decision to stay with the Lakers. Redick, who signed a four-year contract to lead the team, launched the "Mind the Game" podcast with James in March. On the podcast, James and Redick sat down weekly to discuss the state of the game and the evolution of basketball, dissect plays, and give casual fans insider knowledge on terms used for offensive and defensive plays in NBA playbooks.