Free Agency Catch-Up: LeBron Takes Pay Cut, Kings Land DeRozan

Some of the last remaining big names in NBA Free Agency agreed to deals Saturday night, including the biggest of big names: LeBron James.

The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported James would be re-signing with the Los Angeles Lakers on a two-year deal worth $101.355 million that includes a player option for the second year. This news came three days after reports initially said James would be re-signing on a two-year maximum $104 million deal. The slightly lesser deal is important because it places the Lakers below the punitive salary second apron, giving the franchise more flexibility to orchestrate other deals this offseason.

Edwin Garcia of Silver Screen & Roll, our Lakers SB Nation sister site, laid out how the discounted deal could be impactful for LA.

While this discount may seem minimal, it gives the Lakers flexibility to make some deals moving forward.

Adding LeBron’s contract puts the Lakers at just under the $188.9 million second apron.

If vice president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka can execute a deal that clears up some salaries, he can create two roster spots and have the flexibility to use the $5.2 million taxpayer midlevel exception.

Many of our readers are probably wondering what this news means regarding a possible Lakers trade for Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant, who LA has shown reported interest in this offseason. On X, formerly Twitter, the Rose Garden Report’s Sean Highkin said the James discount keeps a Grant deal alive, so long as the Lakers are willing to part with the reported price, which continues to be two first-round picks.

Bottom line on Lakers/Jerami stuff: if LA is willing to give up both firsts, they’ll find a way to make the money work. If they aren’t willing to give up both, not worth it for Portland to deal with all the extra salary/roster/cap management stuff.

Kings Get DeRozan

Six-time NBA All-Star forward DeMar DeRozan was the other big name that found a home Saturday night.

The Sacramento Kings landed the veteran forward on a three-year, $74 million sign-and-trade deal that involved the Chicago Bulls and San Antonio Spurs, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported.

The Kings agreed to trade forward Harrison Barnes and an unprotected 2031 pick swap to the Spurs and guard Chris Duarte, two second-round draft picks and cash to the Bulls, according to Wojnarowski.

DeRozan, 34, will bolster Sacramento’s star power and already potent offense built around point guard De’Aaron Fox and center Domantas Sabonis. DeRozan averaged 24.0 points and 5.3 assists per game for the Bulls this past season.

The signing looks like a shrewd move by Sacramento, as the franchise looks to revive its momentum after taking a step back in the 2023-24 season. The Kings finished as the ninth seed in the West, just a season after capturing the third seed.

Other Deals

Forward Miles Bridges agreed to re-sign with the Charlotte Hornets on a three-year, $75 million deal, Wojnarowski reported.

Forward Simone Fontecchio agreed on a two-year, $16 million deal to return to the Detroit Pistons, Woj reported. Detroit also agreed to sign veteran sharpshooter Malik Beasley on a one-year, $6 million-plus deal, according to Charania.

The Denver Nuggets bolstered their bench, agreeing to sign forward Dario Saric on a two-year, $10.6 million deal, per Woj.

Woj also reported the Philadelphia 76ers agreed to sign forward Caleb Martin on a four-year deal worth over $32 million.