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Everyone is wondering what LeBron James’ decision will be this summer. As an unrestricted free agent, LeBron has all career options available to him. He can return to the Lakers, join another team, or retire from the game.
While we don’t yet know which way he’s leaning on any of those pathways, one thing being said is that LeBron taking a massive pay cut to return home is unlikely.
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On an ESPN Cleveland radio segment, Brian Windhorst said that, to his knowledge, LeBron isn’t prepared to join the Cavs if all they can offer him in this exact moment is a little over $3 million.
LeBron has taken pay cuts before. He did it back when he joined the Heat and also took less than the max with the Lakers back in 2024, so LA could avoid the second apron.
Still, it’s one thing to take a bit less and another to decrease your salary by approximately 94.7%. LeBron might not be the player he once was, but he’s still an All-Star who led a team to the second round of the Western Conference playoffs.
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A pay cut like that to join a team that was just swept in the Eastern Conference Finals wouldn’t make much sense, unless all that mattered to LeBron was returning home.
And based on his words during the “Mind The Game” podcast, part of his decision will be about where he can compete for a title.
At this point, it’s hard to argue the Cavaliers are much closer to a championship than the Lakers, and it’s even tougher to make that an enticing proposition when the amount you can pay is only $3 million.
A lot can happen between now and free agency. Perhaps the Cavs can make deals that open up cap space so they can offer LeBron something closer to his market value.
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However, as things currently stand, the Lakers seem to be in a good spot if they want LeBron back.
They have plenty of cap space, and depending on the moves they make to strengthen their roster, LA might have everything LeBron wants, which includes a decent salary, a place he loves to live and his best chance at winning his fifth ring.
You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/lebron-james-not-expected-pay-173118414.html
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Publish date : 2026-05-27 17:31:00
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