Many fans and pundits predicted the Los Angeles Lakers would compete for the championship this year after the Luka Doncic trade.
The Lakers acquired Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks in February. The purple and gold’s new “Big 3” of Doncic, LeBron James and Austin Reaves helped the team finish with the third-best record in the Western Conference.
However, the Lakers lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the playoffs in five games. Minnesota won Games 1, 3, 4 and 5 of the best-of-seven series.
The Timberwolves series proved that the Lakers need to make more upgrades this offseason to become a title contender, and James has been urged to make a “substantial sacrifice” for the franchise.
Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James has been urged to take a huge pay cut.
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Sam Quinn of CBS Sports thinks James needs to take less than the max salary next season.
The four-time MVP has a player option worth $52.6 million for 2025-26.
“The Lakers, as currently constructed, have a ways to go before they can credibly compete for the 2026 championship,” Quinn wrote. “If they are going to do so, they need to improve their roster substantially, and their easiest path to improving the roster substantially involves James making a substantial sacrifice.
“He might be understandably gun-shy about doing so because he’s seen previous employers waste similar sacrifices in the past, but if he wants to maximize his chances at winning one more title, that’s the one tool available at his disposal to do so.”
James made the All-NBA Second Team this year, becoming the oldest (40) player in NBA history to make one of the three All-NBA teams.
A four-time Finals MVP, James averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 8.2 assists this season while shooting 51.3% from the field and 37.6% from 3. He’s still a max contract player.
However, Quinn believes James needs to take a pay cut to help the Lakers get more talent in Los Angeles.
