LeBron James has never taken a pay cut during his time in Los Angeles and it was expected that he would aim for a new max contract with the Lakers this summer. With the Lakers prepared to pay it, this all felt inevitable, but suddenly, James willingness to take less than a max contract opens up a full mid-level exception for the Lakers and lots of possibilities with it.
While this creates new opportunities for the Lakers, you still need LeBron on board to make it happen, so it has to be for a player he finds worth it. While original reporting centered on Klay Thompson, James Harden and Jonas Valančiūnas as the three primary names, on Monday’s “The Hoop Collective” podcast, Brian Windhorst of ESPN discussed another potential name.
LeBron and Rich Paul met with the Lakers on this topic last week and they agreed, from what I am told, on a short list of players that LeBron would feel good about taking less money to get on the Lakers and, obviously, one of them was Klay Thompson…I think there’s more than three [players on the list]. I think DeMar DeRozan is on that list as well and there may be another one or so.
We’ve heard Thompson’s name all weekend linked to the Lakers and it was reported that James called Klay at the start of free agency.
However, DeMar DeRozan is a person we haven’t heard connected to the Lakers this summer.
The Compton native and, previously, Chicago Bull would provide an offensive surge no current Laker besides LeBron and Anthony Davis can provide. He averaged 24 points, 4.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists last year in Chicago, and while he is an aging star, that kind of production is hard to come by.
No one has wanted to be a Laker more in the NBA than DeRozan during his time in the league. Multiple times, the two parties have come close to uniting but that has yet to happen. Could this summer finally see DeRozan get his wish?
DeRozan becomes an increasingly intriguing option as an unrestricted free agent and with the market quickly dwindling. If LeBron approves, this move would improve the Lakers.
Is it better than acquiring Thompson? Probably not. Defensively he likely gives you a little bit more, Klay’s shooting is so elite that you have to think that’s the best-case scenario for Los Angeles.
Still, if Klay goes elsewhere, it’s good to hear the Lakers have more than one option for improving this summer.
You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88.
