Lakers rumors: Three ways to spend the new cap space in the summer

Option #2:

• LeBron James: Three-year, $114 million (Player option)

• DeAndre Jordan: Three-year, $70 million 

• Shabazz Napier: One-year, $2 million

• Julius Randle: Three-year, $24 million

The LeBron James way is not as star-studded as the Paul George way, but it arguably could still create another title contending team out West. Whether or not this team is better than the previous team is up to debate. Regardless, a starting five of Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, LeBron James, Kyle Kuzma and DeAndre Jordan is pretty promising.

Again, the Lakers would need to backload these contracts to make it work. LeBron needs to be paid as much, if not more, than he would have if he stayed in Cleveland. Thus, he will make $36 million his first season, $38 million the next and $40 million if he sticks around for a third.

Jordan, however, must take a slight pay cut if he wants to get out of the weird in-between Clippers phase. The Lakers can pay Jordan $23 million in the first year ($1.1 million less) and $23.5 million the ensuing two seasons.

Shabazz Napier may seem like an oddball pick, but he would be a solid addition behind Lonzo Ball off of the bench. The Lakers would need one more decent young playmaker, Napier may be that guy. LeBron was high of him before he was drafted, perhaps he could recruit him to Los Angeles.

Then, using the Bird Rights on him, the Lakers can sum up a solid seven-man rotation with Julius Randle. Los Angeles would have $3 million more to spend as well on depth pieces.

Not the deepest team, but it is hard to see a LeBron-Lakers team happening any other way.