Rachel Nichols has a bold proposition for LeBron: "The thing you cannot buy with whatever money you get in that contract is championship rings" https://t.co/QOsp0BRxH2— LakerTom (@LakerTom) May 9, 2025
Rachel Nichols has a bold proposition for LeBron
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May 9, 2025 2 Comments
FROM THE ABOVE ARTICLE:
The Los Angeles Lakers face a long offseason with more questions than answers. Although they did well to nab the third seed in the loaded Western Conference, their roster’s holes were exposed by the Minnesota Timberwolves, who booted them out of the first round in only five games.
With LeBron James yet to decide on his player option and fellow superstar Luka Doncic eligible for a massive contract extension, money matters are expected to throw a monkey wrench in the Lakers’ plans to construct a more formidable roster and address the glaring need for a center and more defensive-oriented players.
However, veteran broadcaster Rachel Nichols proposed a bold approach, if LeBron is amenable to it, that would significantly boost Purple & Gold’s chances of recruiting another star or several role players, which can drastically improve their chances next season.
Take a massive pay cut
With little financial wiggle room and few assets to move around, the Lakers find themselves in a pickle regarding roster construction. However, one way to unshackle the team’s front office from its current conundrum is for LeBron to take a massive pay cut. Nichols specified that he must take the veteran’s minimum.
While the prospect of such a move may seem unlikely, given Bron’s business savvy and his past contract demands, it could be the necessary sacrifice to help the Lakers build a more balanced and sustainable team. By shedding a significant portion of his salary, James would free up valuable cap space for the Purple & Gold to pursue top-tier talent in free agency or via trades.
“LeBron has felt for a long time that he is, at large, big picture, underpaid. And that is why, ever since his first contract in Miami, after that, he has wanted the maximum amount of money. And he is absolutely right,” Rachel explained. “There is no amount of money that the NBA at large, or any team he plays for, could pay him to compensate for what he has brought to the NBA. So he is always going to be ‘underpaid.'”
Related: “I was probably emotional and upset and directed a lot of that anger toward the team” – Hill admits he regrets how his career in Detroit ended
A necessary sacrifice
To say the Lakers’ roster was flawed is to put it lightly. With no legitimate center or reliable defenders, they got blasted by a Timberwolves squad led by dynamic guard Anthony Edwards. If they aspire to keep up with the league’s best, they obviously need more pieces. This can only happen if “The King” takes a peasant’s salary, which Rachel said won’t hurt his bottom line.
“He is a billionaire. So, how much money he makes in the next year or two? It’s not even going to put a dent in his grandchildren’s grandchildren’s grandchildren’s pockets,” Nichols stated.
“And if I were LeBron, the thing you cannot buy with whatever amount of money you do get in that contract is championship rings. And if you took just the league minimum, and that allows a third really sort of huge superstar to come in,” she remarked. “Not only could he win another ring, but if he sticks around, and there’s certainly a lot of talk about the fact that he wants to now wait to play with his son, Bryce, who still has a year at Arizona coming up and there’s a couple of years until Bryce comes in the league — he could get maybe two rings.”
LeBron has achieved everything imaginable in his NBA career — and more. As he approaches the twilight of his journey in professional basketball, James might be considering the perfect moment to bow out at the pinnacle of success.
Not.
Happening.
$10 mil max pay cut. If even that and it would have to be for someone gravitational that alters our chances of winning significantly.
Vet minimum?
Please…Rachel should know better than to play with other people’s money. That’s an amateur’s game. She’s supposed to be a pro…