According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, LeBron James had three free agents on his wish list for the Los Angeles Lakers. However, two have already signed with other teams, leaving Klay Thompson as the only remaining unsigned target.
James was willing to take a pay cut to help the Lakers sign James Harden, but Harden is re-signing with the Los Angeles Clippers. Veteran center Jonas Valanciunas, also on the list, has agreed to terms with the Washington Wizards, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
James Harden intends to sign a two-year, $70 million contract to rejoin the Los Angeles Clippers, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, Harden’s agents—Mike Silverman, Troy Payne, and Brandon Grier of Equity Sports—have been collaborating with Clippers officials to finalize the deal, as detailed on June 30, 2024, on X.
Thompson, Harden and Valanciunas were the three specific players James was willing to take less money for Los Angeles to sign. It remains to be seen if there are additional players who meet James’ conditions as difference makers.
Rich Paul stated that James is open to signing a contract with the Lakers for less than the maximum three-year, $162 million he is eligible for, in order to free up the full $12.9 million midlevel exception to sign an “impact player,” McMenamin wrote in a June 29 story titled, “Rich Paul: LeBron James could accept pay cut to help Lakers.”
According to sources cited by ESPN, James would be willing to take a pay cut for an established veteran playmaker like James Harden or Klay Thompson, or a seasoned big man to pair with Anthony Davis, such as Jonas Valančiūnas.
After opting out of his two-year, $99 million contract, James is technically a free agent. He is collaborating with the Lakers to secure additional players before signing a new deal.
