Kofi Inkoom
According to NBA insider Dave McMenamin of ESPN, LeBron James is willing to take a pay cut on his next contract if the Los Angeles Lakers can acquire James Harden, Klay Thompson, or Jonas Valanciunas.
LeBron, 39, turned down his $51.4 million player option for the 2024-25 season with the Lakers and plans to re-sign, showing openness to accepting less money if it helps the team land a significant player.
“The type of player that James would be willing to make a financial sacrifice for would be an established veteran playmaker like James Harden or Klay Thompson, or an established big man to play alongside Anthony Davis—like Jonas Valanciunas,” McMenamin writes.
Klay Thompson and Jonas Valanciunas are expected to be available this offseason, while James Harden is likely to stay with the Clippers but not ruling out a move.
During the 2024 playoffs against the Dallas Mavericks, James Harden averaged 21 points, 4 rebounds, and 8 assists per game, shooting 45% from the field and 38% from three-point range over six games.
Valanciunas’ Pelicans were swept by the Thunder in the first round, while the Warriors, led by Curry, Draymond and Thompson, missed the playoffs.
If the Lakers succeed in acquiring Harden, they could create a star-studded trio with LeBron James and Anthony Davis as they aim for championship run next season.
Last season, LeBron averaged 25.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 8.3 assists per game in 71 games for the Lakers, shooting 54.0% from the field, 41.0% from three-point range, and 75.0% from the free-throw line.