The NBA world was buzzing this week after whispers of a LeBron James trade deal began to spread across social media on Thursday evening. But amid rising questions about LeBron’s availability, Rich Paul himself came out to deny all the rumors and set the record straight on his client’s basketball future. “LeBron won’t be traded, and we aren’t asking to be,” James’ agent, Rich Paul, said, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst.
Doubts began to settle in after LeBron was mysteriously ruled out for the game against the Celtics with a “left ankle peroneal tendinopathy.” Naturally, fans assumed he was skipping the game for load management but a strange report emerged about the Lakers putting him at the top of their trade list. As crazy as the claim sounds, the source has a solid track record of reporting in the past and there was nothing to suggest that he was illegitimate. But now that the rumor has been shot down by the NBA’s biggest sports agent, fans aren’t sure what to think and the future of the Lakers seems more unpredictable now than ever before.
LeBron James has never promised to retire as a Laker and the idea that he might leave one day has really picked up steam over the past few years. Since winning the championship in 2020, the Lakers have not been a very good team and it’s been to the detriment of LeBron, who continues to be one of the league’s top players year after year. A breakup might help put both sides in a better position, but the Lakers have made it clear in the past that they have no intention to separate from James, and Jeanie Buss herself has stated that her goal is to keep the King happy at all costs.
As for LeBron’s odds of asking for a trade this season, it would be the first time he’s taken such action after 20+ years. So far, LeBron has been committed to playing out his contracts and he’s never been in a situation where a team was seriously looking to move him. And while the Lakers could earn an interesting return for James, it won’t be so easy to part with an NBA legend. Even now, at 39 years old, LeBron is just too valuable to trade and he’s got no reason to force his hand now with free agency looming.
The most likely path for LeBron’s Laker exit is via free agency this summer or in the next. The last year of James’ contract is a player option, meaning that he can opt out and become a free agent in just a few months. The plan for LeBron is to follow his son, Bronny, wherever he ends up after the draft and that could be what ultimately pulls him away from the Purple and Gold. If not, James could just as easily opt into the final year (set at $51 million) and continue his run with the franchise.
Only time will tell what LeBron decides next, but it stands to reason that these next few months will play a vital role in how he chooses. At this stage of his career, LeBron doesn’t have time to wait out the mistakes of others. He needs to win now or join his son so that he can end his career on his own terms. Clearly, LeBron’s plan does not involve being traded and nobody should be holding their breath on a blockbuster deal.
