(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
The Los Angeles Lakers are running out of options in free agency.
Reports stated that they were keen on signing James Harden, Jonas Valanciunas, and Klay Thompson, but they wound up signing with the Los Angeles Clippers, Washington Wizards, and Dallas Mavericks, respectively.
The word around the league is that LeBron James was willing to take a $20 million pay cut in his new contract in order to help the team get those free agents.
But with the talent pool going dry by the minute, there aren’t that many guys that would make James consider leaving money on the table.
With that in mind, Jovan Buha of The Athletic reports that DeMar DeRozan is the last player James would take a pay cut for, and the Lakers are still looking to get him (via Evan Sidery).
DeMar DeRozan is the final free agent remaining who LeBron James is willing to take a $20 million pay cut for, per @jovanbuha (https://t.co/365BJX0I2s).
The Lakers and Bulls have discussed the possibility of a sign-and-trade involving DeRozan. pic.twitter.com/v01GBMktHq
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) July 2, 2024
Apparently, the Lakers could engage in sign-and-trade talks with the Chicago Bulls.
That would make sense, as the Bulls would be able to get something in return for their star, and DeRozan would most likely be able to get more money.
DeRozan has been tied to the Lakers for years now.
He grew up idolizing Kobe Bryant, and he admitted that he was close to signing with the Lakers before joining the Bulls.
Then again, his fit next to LeBron and Anthony Davis might not be the best.
He’s not a three-point shooter, and the Lakers’ spacing wasn’t particularly great during the Darvin Ham era, so that’s another factor to consider in this equation.
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