The Warriors forward asked LeBron to give up his massive salary next season.
One of the most pressing questions for the Los Angeles Lakers this offseason is what to do with LeBron James. With the star forward salary stretching the team’s salary cap to the maximum, the answer for the Lakers may lie in the unusual proposal of one of their biggest rivals, Draymond Green.
Beyond the salary cap, the relationship between “King James” and head coach Darvin Ham has not been the best. This added to the defeat in the Western Conference finals at the hands of the Denver Nuggets, has caused rumors about James’ departure from the team to increase in recent weeks.
The most likely destination for the 21-year veteran, according to analysts, would be the Golden State Warriors. Rumors say that to make his arrival to the Warriors a reality, James could even give up his massive salary next season. However, Green seems to have found a way for the Lakers to avoid losing their star.
Draymond Green hints at LeBron James' future with a nod to LA loyalty. 🌟 Will the King stay put amidst swirling rumors? 🏀👀#lebronjames #lebron #lalakers #lakers #nbaplayoffs #NBA #nbaplyaoffs #draymondgreen pic.twitter.com/sae7HPVWYs
— EssentiallySports (@es_sportsnews) May 2, 2024
Draymond Greene’s solution
On the most recent episode of his podcast, The Draymond Green Show, the Warriors’ star forward suggested that if he wanted to remain in Los Angeles, James could still opt out of his current contract, thus facilitating negotiations for a new deal.
“LeBron could opt out of that deal, be a free agent, they can sign someone with cap space and then sign LeBron back,”Green detailed. The Michigan State product considered that the Lakers’ roster lacks strength, as evidenced by their loss to the Nuggets.
“Are you comfortable going into the next season with pretty much the same supporting cast you have and LeBron and AD (Anthony Davis)?” launched Draymond to the Los Angeles board.
Although Green’s proposal is interesting, rumors point in the opposite direction. LeBron has given no clear signs of what he will do next season, and the Lakers are not willing to let their star go without a fight.
According to The Athletic’s insider, Shams Charania, the Lakers are willing to bow down to James and would offer him a massive three-year, $164 million contract. The agreement would include a no-trade clause, which would anchor the “King” with the franchise until 2027.
