At age 41, LeBron James remains one of the NBA’s top players, but he is entering the summer without a Lakers contract. With Austin Reaves set to sign a massive new deal worth $185 million over four years, U.S. reports say there may not be enough cap space left for the new contract LeBron wants.
That uncertainty has put the Cleveland Cavaliers, where LeBron began his legendary career, among the leading candidates to land him. The key piece for the Lakers in such a scenario would be Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen, whom they strongly covet. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said, “LeBron would have to want to sign with the Cavs, but the Lakers love the idea of getting Allen. They would do that trade in a tenth of a second.”
In that version of events, LeBron would first sign a new contract and then be immediately traded to Cleveland for Allen. That would let him secure a bigger salary, while the Lakers would receive value for his departure. Allen has three years left on his current deal, worth $131 million.
U.S. analysts said Allen’s arrival could give the Lakers an All-Star-level center next to Luka Doncic. Deandre Ayton, the Lakers’ starting center last season, has a player option worth $8 million, and if Allen joined, Ayton could be moved in another deal for a player better suited to playing alongside Doncic and Reaves. Last regular season, Allen averaged 15.4 points on 63.8% shooting, 8.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists, while LeBron posted 20.9 points on 51.5% shooting, 7.2 assists and 6.1 rebounds.
