FA: Lebron Returns to LAL | 2yrs/101.5mil

[SleepingHero]

Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania)
JUST IN: LeBron James plans to sign a two-year, $104 million maximum deal to return to the Los Angeles Lakers, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.

[SleepingHero]

Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn)
Deal includes a player option and no trade, per sources.

[SleepingHero]

Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn)
There’s still a conversation with agent Rich Paul and Lakers on James taking $1 million or so below max to keep team below second-apron and able to keep a little more roster-building flexibility, source tells ESPN.

[SleepingHero]

[Smitty]

Yuck!

[SleepingHero]

They are basically stuck. Capped out and are limited in trades now. Can't make any FA signing that isn't a vet min deal.

[SleepingHero]

[Jmaciscool]

Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn)
There’s still a conversation with agent Rich Paul and Lakers on James taking $1 million or so below max to keep team below second-apron and able to keep a little more roster-building flexibility, source tells ESPN.

So it went from "I'll sacrifice $20M to make the team better" to "Please LeBron, will you take just a million less so we can stay under the crippling second apron?"

[Chicagojk]

Ouch.   Every roster spot is valuable.   Really interesting that the smaller ones can be troublesome.    They are easier to move, but can be thorns in your side.   Denver had to move three seconds to get off Reggie Jackson.   Plus their signing last summer of Zeke Njaji looks like a real bad signing.    LAC are looking something to do with Russ.    I think the new CBA is going to really expose teams who make rash or poor decisions...no matter the size of that contract.

[SleepingHero]

Ouch.   Every roster spot is valuable.   Really interesting that the smaller ones can be troublesome.    They are easier to move, but can be thorns in your side.   Denver had to move three seconds to get off Reggie Jackson.   Plus their signing last summer of Zeke Njaji looks like a real bad signing.    LAC are looking something to do with Russ.    I think the new CBA is going to really expose teams who make rash or poor decisions...no matter the size of that contract.

It will. I didn't know you couldn't trade multiple minimum deals in the same trade. Lakers are getting bit.

And have they learned their lesson? No. They just handed Bronny a guaranteed deal that's about as close to the max as you could be for a 2nd round pick.

[DallasMaverick]

Ouch.   Every roster spot is valuable.   Really interesting that the smaller ones can be troublesome.    They are easier to move, but can be thorns in your side.   Denver had to move three seconds to get off Reggie Jackson.   Plus their signing last summer of Zeke Njaji looks like a real bad signing.    LAC are looking something to do with Russ.    I think the new CBA is going to really expose teams who make rash or poor decisions...no matter the size of that contract.

In the old days, you didn’t mind overpaying for a player if you believed he was that missing piece that could potentially put you over the top. Or give a guy a contract even though he’s injured.

Now, bad payroll just about ends a team’s chances for competing at the highest level.

[dirkfansince1998]

You are telling me that Mavs savior Christian Wood is so freakin bad that even on a minimum salary the Lakers are struggling to find a trade? Who'd have thunk it...

[KillerLeft]

You are telling me that Mavs savior Christian Wood is so freakin bad that even on a minimum salary the Lakers are struggling to find a trade? Who'd have thunk it...

[SkenfromLMF]

It will. I didn't know you couldn't trade multiple minimum deals in the same trade. Lakers are getting bit.

And have they learned their lesson? No. They just handed Bronny a guaranteed deal that's about as close to the max as you could be for a 2nd round pick.

I don't think it is a minimum salary restriction per se, it is an aggregation restriction by being at the 2nd apron. They can't aggregate ANY salaries.

[F Gump]

It will. I didn't know you couldn't trade multiple minimum deals in the same trade. Lakers are getting bit.

And have they learned their lesson? No. They just handed Bronny a guaranteed deal that's about as close to the max as you could be for a 2nd round pick.

B Marks
The Bronny James contract is the standard second round pick exception. 
$1,157,143 
$1,955,377 
$2,296,271 
$2,486,995 (TO)
It’s the same length in years that three picks in the 50’s signed for last year. The second round pick exception does not apply against the cap until July 31.

HOWEVER (by FG) - I suspect that the comparative question of "how many dollars was each player guaranteed" yields a way different answer to whether or not this was a wild overpay to cater to LBJ.

[F Gump]

I don't think it is a minimum salary restriction per se, it is an aggregation restriction by being at the 2nd apron. They can't aggregate ANY salaries.

There's a new rule that you can't add 2-or-more minimums to be used in aggregation for a player, unless they are the only 2 contracts being aggregated for that player. Applicable to teams at all salary levels.

The rule is not applicable for trades between Dec 15 and trade deadline.

[F Gump]

Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn)
There’s still a conversation with agent Rich Paul and Lakers on James taking $1 million or so below max to keep team below second-apron and able to keep a little more roster-building flexibility, source tells ESPN.

 
With full max to LBJ, LA was going to be about 0.8M over Apron 2 (which punishes a team) before that ridiculous Bronny deal jumped them to about 1.9M over the apron. So I bet they had already negotiated LBJ's down a bit to cover that problem, then agreed to guarantee Bronny for multiple years if LBJ would take even less.

I'm looking for LBJ to take about 2.5-3M less than his max, which will be discreetly offset by that gratuitous 5.42M in guaranteed money to Bronny.

[Smitty]

We need you Gump. In the FA thread.

[SleepingHero]

Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania)
LeBron James' final two-year deal total, per sources: $101.355 million – almost $3M less than his $104M max, placing Lakers below second apron.

[SleepingHero]

 
With full max to LBJ, LA was going to be about 0.8M over Apron 2 (which punishes a team) before that ridiculous Bronny deal jumped them to about 1.9M over the apron. So I bet they had already negotiated LBJ's down a bit to cover that problem, then agreed to guarantee Bronny for multiple years if LBJ would take even less.

I'm looking for LBJ to take about 2.5-3M less than his max, which will be discreetly offset by that gratuitous 5.42M in guaranteed money to Bronny.

Aaaaaannnnd FGump knocks it out of the park again.