Cold hard truth LeBron James must accept next summer

Los Angeles Lakers, LeBron James | Matthew Stockman/GettyImagesLeBron James could be entering his final season with the Los Angeles Lakers. He exercised his $52.6 million player option for next season after the Lakers didn't approach him about an extension. His agent, Rich Paul, made it clear that LeBron wants to contend for a title, but LA is no longer operating on his timeline.

If LeBron leaves the Lakers next summer to sign with a new team in hopes of winning one last championship before he retires (whenever that might be), he'll need to take a considerable pay cut. Teams poised to win a championship don't have the cap space to give him a lot of money. LeBron is LeBron, but there is risk…