There’s been plenty of talk about what LeBron James will do financially this summer. If he searches out a max deal, it could leave his team strapped for cash. Of course, he’s the best player in the L and will be severely underpaid even with a max deal. He wants an appropriate salary. From ESPN.com:
Teams that contact James will be informed that he wants no less than the maximum salary number for next season, sources said. The max number is projected to be $22.2 million. In 2010, James accepted a pay cut when he signed with the Miami Heat, taking less than the maximum salary to help make space for other free agents.
This information could shake up the contenders and sends the message that James, who has never been the single highest-paid player on his team in his 11-year career, is not as willing to sacrifice money to improve the roster as he was in the past. That burden may now fall to teammates such as Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.
Currently, seven teams have the cap space to offer James a deal starting at $22.2 million next season: the Heat, Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns, Utah Jazz, Philadelphia 76ers and Orlando Magic.
