LeBron James has taken a pay cut in the past. It may not have been a huge one, but there is proof of willingness on the part of the Los Angeles Lakers star. If Rob Pelinka and company want James to show them kindness once more, they will need to make a convincing pitch.
Dave McMenamin detailed a long list of things that will play a factor in the looming offseason saga for LeBron during his most recent write-up for ESPN. The Lakers insider highlighted that his sources thought bringing James back to Los Angeles had to do more with the how than the how much.
McMenamin wrote: "The Lakers can't just offer James a number. They have to offer a why behind that number,' an agent who does not rep James but has had clients on L.A.'s roster during James' tenure, told ESPN. 'Their plan for any discount would have to be coherent."
Should that be true, the takeaway seems simple enough here. If Pelinka can put together a strategy for what Los Angeles intends to do with their money, James could be willing to sacrifice his. That firmly puts the ball in the court of the Lakers general manager.
LeBron James' generosity hinges on Rob Pelinka's competence
James has given Pelinka the benefit of the doubt with regard to how the Lakers have been run far more than previous stops of his career. Part of that could come down to age. The other part may just be a clear desire to be in Los Angeles.
That was another thing McMenamin mentioned in his report. James likes the city he plays in. That should not be taken for granted in its importance. However, it could be all for nothing without lining up a real chance to compete.
At the end of the day, that continues to be brought up as the number one thing LeBron cares about at this point of his career.
James may outwardly say he is still unsure of his future. However, there are some thing that can be reasonably assumed based on the reports and common sense.
The latter would still tell anyone that LeBron is more than good enough to keep playing. This year's playoff run even showed James can still take on heavy responsibilities in an offense when asked to. The Lakers star said earlier in the year that no team was better off without him, and this postseason served as strong evidence of that.
If Pelinka wants to benefit off James' services some more, and get a premium rate to boot, the targets list and a clear explanation of how the Lakers close the gap on being a championship contender is a must. Luka Doncic cannot be the only player at the forefront of operations.
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