Windhorst: LeBron James won't accept pay cut from Lakers

Based on what has been written in multiple reports, there is reason to believe that LeBron James wants to stay with the Los Angeles Lakers and that the Lakers want him back. The big question could therefore be how much money James will demand and how much the Lakers will offer him.

He will almost certainly not be offered anything in the neighborhood of the $52.6 million he made this season. While Los Angeles is projected to have tens of millions of dollars in salary cap space this offseason, it also wants to re-sign at least a couple of its other current players who will become free agents, as well as look to sign at least one outside free agent who will help address its roster weaknesses.

Brian Windhorst warned people during Thursday's episode of "Get Up" on ESPN that James may not accept any real pay cut to stay with the Purple and Gold.

“The Lakers have a problem. The Lakers don't want to lose LeBron James. They don't want to lose his 21 points, seven rebounds and seven assists a game, but they don't want to pay $50 million for it, because the rest of the league isn't going to come bidding $50 million. ... You've got to bring him a reason to take a pay cut and explain that yes, the team was 0-8 against the [Oklahoma City] Thunder this year, but if we acquire this player or these two players with the money you're going to leave on the table, we can overcome that. I think LeBron would be open to that.

“But the concept that he’s just not as good anymore and he’s only worth $30 million instead of $50 million, you’re not getting that from LeBron James. LeBron doesn’t believe in that. I don’t expect him to accept that. If you’re the Lakers, if you force LeBron to leave, he’ll go somewhere else and play for less money. He won't want to stay for the Lakers and play for less money if he thinks it's an insult.”