LeBron James could be heading to a huge windfall in the next couple of years, as the upcoming TV deal would likely inflate his salary to as large as $202 million in 2016, according to Sheridan Hoops correspondent Chris Sheridan.
Sheridan, who has been covering the NBA for decades now, believed James' nicely constructed two-year, $42.1 million deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers is just a ploy for him to get the lion's share of money the league is going to have when a new TV deal with ESPN, Turner Sports and Fox Sports reached after the 2015-16 season.
"If the money paid by ESPN, Turner Sports and Fox Sports (yes, they NBA could have three TV partners instead of the current two, following the trail blazed by the NFL) is double what is being paid under the current deal, the salary cap will rise accordingly," Sheridan claimed.
Once a new television deal is hammered, analysts predicted a huge increase in the salary cap along with players' compensation. And apparently, James likes what's he's seeing in the future.
"If, for argument's sake, if the salary cap rises to $100 million, James would be eligible for a new contract with a maximum salary of 35 percent of the cap," Sheridan said in his report. "With 7.5 percent annual raises, James would be eligible for a new five-year contract with salaries of $35 million in Year 1, then $37,626,000, $40,250,000, $42,875,000, $47,550,000. That adds up to $201.5 million."
Despite earning $129 million in his career, James has only received a max paycheck only thrice in his career, and this time, he wants to have big payment heading to his 12th NBA seasons onwards.
"James signed a two-year, $42.1 million deal, sources familiar with the process told ESPN.com, with the goal of re-signing with the Cavs before the 2016-17 season when a new television deal is expected to create a large jump in value of the maximum contract," NBA insider Brian Windhorst reported.
The 29-year old James has been salivating for a big money salary as large as max contract of MLB players. For example, when the Detroit Tigers signed Miguel Cabrera to a an eight-year, $248 million contract extension last year, James appeared to be envious and frustrated for being deprived the chance to have such a huge deal despite his immense value to the league.
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