In light of financial concerns surrounding the coronavirus pandemic, the Los Angeles Lakers are planning to ask a small group of senior-level staffers to voluntarily defer 20 percent of their salary, according to a report from Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium.
This may seem like a strange move to some, especially since it's the Lakers, but other teams around the NBA landscape have kicked around ideas like this. It's not just staffers and team owners who are facing uncertain times. Players in the league could see a portion of their salaries take a hit as well.
The burden could be shared among owners and players alike, as ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reports in his recent article:
The NBA and National Basketball Players Association are discussing scenarios for withholding up to 25% of players' remaining salaries in a league escrow should regular-season games eventually be canceled.
If there is no forthcoming NBA and NBPA agreement on beginning to withhold a percentage of players' salaries with the April 15 paychecks, players would continue to be paid in full on a normal timetable. Under the guidelines in the CBA, players would be required to pay back the salary later, based on a formula of canceled games for a player's individual team and salary.
The NBA decided to suspend the 2019-20 regular season in mid-March due to the coronavirus pandemic. Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert was the league's first confirmed case. His teammate, Donovan Mitchell, tested positive shortly after. Since then, several other players have contracted the virus, with two Lakers even testing positive.
At this point, it's not clear when play might resume, though some are hoping to play games later this year.
With a Western Conference-leading 49-14 overall record, the Lakers were enjoying a fantastic season. For the first time since 2013, the Lake Show had clinched a spot in the postseason and things were looking up. Now, though, with the season suspended, the team's quest for a 17th NBA title has been put on hold.
Furthermore, Lakers superstar LeBron James was on pace to lead the entire NBA in assists for the first time in his career — a remarkable feat at age 35.