Latest on LeBron, Lakers
LeBron James has yet to sign a new contract. He was reportedly willing to take less than his max deal (three years, roughly $160 million) if the Lakers could use that money to bolster the roster elsewhere. Those choices are dwindling with most of the top free agents (including potential Lakers targets Klay Thompson and Jonas Valanciunas) having agreed to deals elsewhere. There is still one option reportedly left on the free agent market, however: DeMar DeRozan. From The Athletic:
“After missing out on Thompson, the Lakers quickly turned their attention to another James target: free-agent wing DeMar DeRozan. Similar to Thompson, DeRozan, 34, is both a potential non-taxpayer midlevel exception candidate and a sign-and-trade candidate for Los Angeles, according to league sources. He is another player whom James would be willing to take less for, league sources confirmed and ESPN first reported.”
DeRozan spent the last three seasons with the Bulls. The Southern California native averaged 24 points, 5.3 assists and 4.3 rebounds per game last season. DeRozan will be 35 at the start of the 2024-25 season.
