LeBron James reportedly has been willing to take a pay cut in order to stay with the Los Angeles Lakers this summer. Doing so would allow them to use their full mid-level exception on a player who could help them improve right now.
According to Dave McMenamin, James was willing to take a pay cut for someone such as Klay Thompson, James Harden or center Jonas Valanciunas. With all three players taken, the Lakers’ options are quickly dwindling.
But there is one intriguing yet imperfect option remaining: veteran star wing DeMar DeRozan. According to insider Chris Haynes, there has been communication between the Lakers and DeRozan’s agent.
Chris Haynes on what it'll take for the Lakers to get DeMar DeRozan:
"It will either take a sign-and-trade or the Lakers getting creative, removing some players, clearing the books"pic.twitter.com/8L12dYETu7
— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) July 1, 2024
“The Lakers missed out. They missed out on Klay,” Haynes said. “The Lakers felt they had a legitimate shot to get Klay. … Now they have to pivot, so who is left out there who could make sense? Someone who is a star-caliber player that LeBron James is seeking for this team for the upcoming season? DeMar DeRozan is the biggest free agent left out there on the board. It will either take a sign-and-trade or it will take the Lakers getting creative, removing some players, clearing the books to be able to get DeMar over there.
“I know there have been communication between the Lakers and DeMar’s agent Aaron Goodwin. It will either take a one-year deal, or a sign-and-trade — we can get a three-year deal.”
“So I would think, I’m speculating a little bit, I would think that their next target is DeMar DeRozan.”
DeRozan cannot stretch the floor, something that seems to be a big emphasis for the Lakers under new head coach JJ Redick. But he is a mid-range master who averaged 24.0 points and 5.3 assists a game this past season. He’s also a bona fide threat in crunch time who was fifth in the NBA in fourth-quarter points per game during the 2023-24 campaign.
DeRozan grew up in the Southland and played his college ball at the University of Southern California, so in a way, perhaps coming to the Lakers would be fitting for the 34-year-old.
DeRozan has spent the last three seasons with the Chicago Bulls while teaming up with former Laker guards Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso.
