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LeBron James signs below max deal to aid Lakers' cap

Sun Jul 7 1:51pm ET
Field Level Media

Lakers superstar LeBron James' new two-year contract is roughly $2.7 million below the $104 million maximum he was eligible for, a move made to aid Los Angeles' future roster construction, ESPN reported late Saturday night.

James, 39, signed a $101.35 million deal on Saturday that will include his 23rd season --the longest career in NBA history -- and helps the Lakers avoid salary cap restrictions down the road.

This marks the second time James has taken a pay cut. Back in 2010, he signed a two-year, $68 million contract to join the Miami Heat. With the $15 million left over, the Heat formed a roster that won two NBA titles and made four straight trips to the NBA Finals.

By including a player option for the second season of his new Lakers deal, along with his veteran status, James will have a default no-trade clause playing back-to-back seasons on one-year guarantees.


Per the report, the Lakers will avoid the second apron by $45,000 with James' salary, thus allowing the team to include its 2032 first-round pick in a deal next offseason. If they hadn't avoided the second apron, the Lakers would've had that pick frozen from any trade possibilities for a salary cap violation.

"We're now in the apron world," Lakers vice president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka said at second-round pick Bronny James' introductory news conference earlier in the week. "We've seen contending teams or championship-level teams have to lose players. That's a result of the apron world we're living in. So, does it make trades more challenging? Yes. Does it make good trades impossible? No. So we'll continue to pursue upgrades to our roster."

In another penalty regarding the second apron, if the Lakers went over $190 million in total roster compensation for next season, they wouldn't be able to make deals that bring back more salary than they send out.

Player Notes
Brook Lopez Fri Jul 26 11:50am

According to Milwaukee Bucks general manager Jon Horst, the team doesn't plan on trading center Brook Lopez. "Brook is so core to who we are," said Horst during an interview. "Of course, he has value around the league. That's a credit to him. But we've not engaged in any real conversations about trading Brook. I hope Brook retires as a Milwaukee Buck." The 36-year-old has been with the Bucks since the 2018-19 campaign. Since then, he's appeared in at least 68 games in all but one season. While Lopez's production has decreased over the years, he remains a double-double threat and one of the most durable big men in the National Basketball Association, giving him value for fantasy managers heading into the 2024-25 season. His abilities from deep and as a shot-blocker also give him a higher ceiling for category participants.

Draymond Green Thu Jul 25 8:10pm

Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green has been instrumental to the team's success over the years. It's known his career is nearing an end. Yet, he added some clarity recently, stating during an interview he's "probably got two more" seasons left before he hangs it up. The 34-year-old has spent his entire career with the Warriors since entering the National Basketball Association, averaging 8.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.0 blocks. He's also a four-time All-Star, four-time NBA champion, and the 2017 Defensive Player of the Year. Without question, Green has a Hall of Fame resume. While he should have more than a few quality showings for fantasy managers on the horizon, his days of consistent production are likely over, even with Klay Thompson now in Dallas.

Stephen Curry Thu Jul 25 8:00pm

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry wants to finish his career with the team. While it's hard to envision the multi-time NBA champion playing for another club, he seemingly hasn't ruled it out. "I've always said I want to be a Warrior for life," Curry said during an interview with Marc J. Spears. "I'm taking it one step at a time, to be honest. I want to win. Let's put it this way, it's a long-winded way of saying that if it is a situation where you're a bottom feeder and it's just because you want to stay there, I'd have a hard time with that." The 36-year-old is entering the final phase of his Hall of Fame career. However, he's still playing at an All-Star level, most recently averaging 26.4 points and 5.1 assists while shooting 40.8% from deep during the 2023-24 campaign. It's a new era in Golden State, with Klay Thompson now a member of the Dallas Mavericks. But Curry has a chance to remain productive for fantasy managers, so he has a good chance of remaining a top-20 option in nearly every format imaginable.

Josh Christopher Thu Jul 25 7:50pm

Free-agent guard Josh Christopher agreed to a two-way deal with the Miami Heat. The 22-year-old spent the last two years with the Rockets. In 138 games in Houston, he averaged 6.9 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 1.6 assists. With that said, he likely won't see much work with the big club during the 2024-25 campaign. However, even if Christopher gets his chance with the main unit, he probably won't play often enough to be a relevant fantasy option.

Anthony Gill Thu Jul 25 7:40pm

Free-agent forward Anthony Gill re-signed with the Washington Wizards. The terms of the deal haven't been disclosed. The 31-year-old has spent his entire career with the Wizards. However, he hasn't done much, averaging 3.6 points in 179 regular season contests. Gill was decent in his three starts in 2023-24, averaging 13.0 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks. Yet, he'll presumably spend most of his time at the end of the bench this season, making him nearly irrelevant for fantasy purposes.

Killian Hayes Thu Jul 25 7:30pm

Free-agent guard Killian Hayes agreed to a one-year, non-guaranteed contract with the Brooklyn Nets. It's an Exhibit 10 deal, so he'll have a chance to compete for a roster spot during training camp. The 2020 No. 7 overall pick has spent his entire four-year career with the Pistons. In 210 games, he averaged 8.1 points, 5.2 assists, and 1.2 steals. With the Nets recently commencing a rebuild, there's a chance Hayes could get minutes and even start, giving him streaming value for fantasy managers. However, he'll need to make the team first.

Jarrett Allen Wed Jul 24 9:10pm

Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen is drawing trade interest from teams around the NBA. This isn't anything new. However, Allen's name resurfaced in trade rumblings after Evan Mobley signed a five-year extension with the Cavs. The 2017 No. 22 overall pick has two years left on his current deal. But he's coming off the best year of his career, finishing 2023-24 by averaging a career-high 16.5 points with 10.5 rebounds and 1.1 blocks. Allen has a relationship with new head coach Kenny Atkinson dating back to their days in Brooklyn, so that could be enough to keep him on the roster. With that in mind, he's expected to remain a top fantasy producer no matter where he plays moving ahead.

Trey Jemison Wed Jul 24 8:50pm

The Grizzlies waived center Trey Jemison on Wednesday. The 24-year-old appeared in 23 games for Memphis last season. He showed promise, averaging 10.0 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks in 14 starts. There are still teams around the National Basketball Association who have two-way spots available, so there's a chance Jemison will link up with a new team. However, he's far from being a relevant fantasy option, and that's not expected to change in the near future. Memphis signed center Jay Huff to a two-way contract in a corresponding move.

Jay Huff Wed Jul 24 8:50pm

Free-agent center Jay Huff agreed to a two-way contract with Memphis. The 26-year-old has spent time with the Lakers, Wizards, and Nuggets during his career. However, his most significant contributions came in the G League, most recently averaging 18.1 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 3.1 blocks with the Greensboro Swarm last season. The Nuggets have Nikola Jokic in the middle, with Dario Saric, Peyton Watson, and DeAndre Jordan behind him on the depth chart. As a result, Huff isn't expected to be a relevant fantasy option anytime soon.

Orlando Robinson Wed Jul 24 8:40pm

Free-agent center Orlando Robinson agreed to a one-year deal to join the Sacramento Kings. He spent the last two seasons with the Miami Heat. However, Robinson averaged only 3.2 points and 3.1 rebounds in 67 appearances for the team. His statistical contributions likely won't improve in Sacramento, especially with Domantas Sabonis being one of the most durable players in the National Basketball Association.

Kevin Durant Wed Jul 24 8:40pm

According to ESPN's Brian Windhorst, Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant has resumed practicing with Team USA ahead of the 2024 Summer Olympics. However, Durant's playing status remains a mystery, with Team USA head coach Steve Kerr stating there will be a "big collaboration" regarding when he will play. Fortunately, it appears the multi-time All-Star is moving in the right direction. While Durant likely won't suit up versus Serbia on Sunday, it appears he has a chance to get on the floor soon.

DeAndre Jordan Wed Jul 24 8:30pm

Free-agent center DeAndre Jordan re-signed with the Denver Nuggets. The 36-year-old averaged a career-low 3.9 points and 4.4 rebounds last season. While his presence adds depth to a team looking to capture another NBA championship, he will likely spend most of his time on the bench, especially with Dario Saric, Peyton Watson, and Zeke Nnaji on the roster. With that in mind, Jordan did average 16.0 points, 10.5 rebounds, 1.5 steals, and 1.0 blocks in two starts during the 2023-24 campaign, so there is streaming potential for fantasy managers if Nikola Jokic misses time.

James Johnson Wed Jul 24 8:30pm

Free-agent forward James Johnson agreed to a one-year, $3.3 million contract to return to Indiana. The 37-year-old has played for 10 teams throughout his decade-plus tenure in the National Basketball Association. He spent the last two seasons with the Pacers, most recently averaging 0.9 points during the 2023-24 campaign. Johnson's leadership is his biggest asset for Indiana. However, it won't do much for his fantasy value.

Nikola Topic Wed Jul 24 7:00pm

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Nikola Topic (knee) underwent successful surgery to repair a partially torn ACL. He's still expected to miss the entire 2024-25 campaign. While teams around the National Basketball Association were aware of the injury, that didn't stop OKC from selecting him with the No. 12 pick of the 2024 NBA Draft. With that said, Topic won't have any value in redraft leagues this season. However, patient dynasty managers can draft the 18-year-old accordingly, although it may take him a few seasons to find his rhythm.

Bruce Brown Wed Jul 24 6:50pm

Toronto Raptors guard/forward Bruce Brown continues to draw interest from several teams around the National Basketball Association. The 27-year-old is entering the final season of his current deal, making him an attractive commodity, especially for teams looking to make a deep postseason run. After signing with the Pacers before the 2023-24 campaign, he was traded to Toronto ahead of the deadline. However, Brown averaged just 9.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.7 assists. His fantasy outlook isn't promising as long as he remains with the Raptors. Yet, it could increase significantly if Brown gets consistent minutes with a new team.

Kyle Kuzma Wed Jul 24 6:40pm

Washington Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma is expected to be traded "in the coming months." The 29-year-old is coming off his best season since entering the NBA in 2017, averaging a career-high 22.2 points with 6.6 rebounds and 4.2 assists. Without question, he would add value to any club, especially with a championship ring on his resume. However, a move to a new team could mean a reduction in statistical contributions for Kuzma, who has been a stable offensive presence for the Wizards over the last few seasons.

Andrew Nembhard Wed Jul 24 6:30pm

Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard agreed to a three-year, $59 million contract extension with Indiana. The 2022 No. 31 overall pick has appeared in 143 regular season games for the Pacers, averaging 9.3 points, 4.3 assists, and 2.4 rebounds while shooting 35.7% from deep. Unlike the last two seasons, he will likely remain in the starting lineup in 2024-25, making him an attractive fantasy asset for managers. With Tyrese Haliburton known for his constant ailments, Nembhard may be in store for his most productive year to date.

Jonas Valanciunas Tue Jul 23 8:50pm

Washington Wizards center Jonas Valanciunas agreed to a three-year, $30 million contract with the team this offseason. However, NBA insiders Brian Windhorst and Tim Bontemps have doubts about him playing out his contract in Washington. In fact, both believe he could be gone ahead of the 2024-25 trade deadline, with the Lakers being a team mentioned as a possible landing spot. At any rate, Valanciunas is coming off a down year, finishing with averages of 12.2 points and 8.8 rebounds. The Wizards selected Alexandre Sarr in the 2024 NBA Draft, so his development could be the deciding factor. If Valanciunas ends up in Los Angeles, he'll likely see plenty of minutes. In addition, Anthony Davis could finally slide back over to the four spot, potentially enhancing his shooting from behind the arc.

Precious Achiuwa Tue Jul 23 8:30pm

According to Ian Begley of SNY, the Knicks remain "in regular contact" with free-agent forward/center Precious Achiuwa. The 24-year-old began last season with Toronto but was moved to New York in the OG Anunoby trade. While he wasn't a consistent member of the rotation, he was a valuable depth piece for a team that battled injuries underneath the basket. With that said, there are clubs interested in acquiring him. However, if Achiuwa returns to New York, he'll likely come off the bench behind Mitchell Robinson. Yet, with Robinson's history of ailments over the years, Achiuwa may get chances with the first five.

Kevin Durant Tue Jul 23 8:20pm

Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (calf) isn't expected to suit up when Team USA begins their quest for a gold medal against Serbia. While Durant is anticipated to play at some point during the 2024 Summer Olympics, head coach Steve Kerr is taking things slow while the superstar recovers from a calf injury. Without question, his presence will be needed. However, fantasy managers are more eager to see if this will turn into something that will impact Durant's status to begin the 2024-25 campaign.