LeBron James offered to take a pay cut this offseason in an effort to bring Jonas Valanciunas to the Los Angeles Lakers.
According to a report by ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, James was willing to reduce his salary to allow the Lakers to open up the full midlevel exception and sign Valanciunas.
Valanciunas, a Lithuanian center who became an unrestricted free agent this summer, ultimately opted for a three-year, $30 million deal with the Washington Wizards. Despite interest from the Lakers, Valanciunas chose guaranteed money with Washington over the Lakers’ offer.
During the 2023-2024 season, Valanciunas averaged 12.2 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game with the New Orleans Pelicans.
The 32-year-old veteran brought consistent production as a big man, which made him an attractive target for Los Angeles as they looked to bolster their frontcourt.
McMenamin pointed out that the Lakers had several assets to work with, including young talent like Dalton Knecht, Jalen Hood-Schifino, and Max Christie, as well as expiring contracts like D’Angelo Russell’s $18.6 million deal. However, the Lakers were unable to make a significant splash in free agency, missing out on a high-level acquisition like Valanciunas.
With Valanciunas off the table, James re-signed with the Lakers on a two-year, $101 million contract.
Los Angeles still holds valuable trade assets, including future first-round picks in 2029 and 2031, as well as midrange contracts like those of Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent, and Jarred Vanderbilt. The Lakers may still look to make moves before the trade deadline to strengthen their roster for a playoff push.
