Lakers Miss Out On $70 Million Star Player On LeBron James’ Wish List

The Los Angeles Lakers considered adding a third star behind LeBron James and Anthony Davis. James Harden was on their list, but he decided to re-sign with their city rivals. The Lakers have shown interest in multiple players and Harden is out of their equation.

LeBron opted out of his deal with the Lakers. He was expected to sign a mass contract, but the four-time NBA champion agreed to take a cheaper contract to help the team grab another player.

Harden is out and so is Jonas Valanciunas. He agreed to sign a deal with the Washington Wizards and the Lakers are no longer counting on him. Klay Thompson is the only star player who has yet to sign a deal this offseason.

“James Harden plans to sign a two-year, $70 million contract to return to the Los Angeles Clippers, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium, Harden’s agents – Mike Silverman, Troy Payne and Brandon Grier of Equity Sports – have been working with Clippers officials to finalize new deal,” The Athletic’s Shams Charania detailed on June 30, 2024 on X.

Lakers can still get a star and create a Big 3 with LeBron and AD

Dave McMenamin discussed Lakers’ interest in Harden, Valanciunas, and Thompson. LeBron was willing to take a cheaper contract just to bring any of these three on the Lakers roster.

LeBron is willing to make a financial sacrifice for an established veteran playmaker or big man like Klay Thompson, James Harden or Jonas Valanciunas, sources told @mcten.

If the Lakers are unable to entice a player like that, James will seek the max, his agent Rich Paul said. pic.twitter.com/738xfWm597

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 29, 2024

“[Rich] Paul said James would be willing to work with the Lakers on signing a deal below the maximum three-year, $162 million he is eligible for to open up the full $12.9 million midlevel exception to sign an ‘impact player,’” McMenamin wrote in a June 29 story titled, “Rich Paul: LeBron James could accept pay cut to help Lakers.”

“The type of player that James would be willing to make a financial sacrifice for would be an established veteran playmaker such as James Harden or Klay Thompson, or an established big man to play alongside Anthony Davis such as Jonas Valančiūnas, sources told ESPN.”