LeBron James has chosen to take a pay cut in order to give the Los Angeles Lakers more flexibility in building a competitive team. Despite being eligible for a maximum contract, James signed a two-year extension for less than the $104 million max deal. The hope is that the Lakers can avoid salary cap restrictions in the future. James reportedly wants the team to acquire an impact player, but their efforts to sign Klay Thompson or DeMar DeRozan in free agency have been unsuccessful. The team is now considering other options like Gary Trent Jr. and Spencer Dinwiddie. By taking less money, James is following a pattern he established in 2010 when he joined the Miami Heat and helped build a championship roster by freeing up cap space. This decision shows his commitment to winning and his willingness to sacrifice personal gain for team success.