Despite being one of the greatest players in basketball history, LeBron James is reportedly generating “little to no trade interest” around the league, a revelation that has stunned some fans but makes sense when factoring in age, salary, and circumstances. According to ESPN's Bobby Marks, multiple front offices view trading for LeBron as an unrealistic proposition in 2025.
"You know, to be sensitive to LeBron, who’s considered one of the greatest of all time, there isn’t, and here’s why. He’s making fifty-three million dollars. He’s in his last year of his contract. He’s forty years old."
"And I talked to numerous teams yesterday and asked that same question: would you give up, basically, the farm? And basically, you’d have to give up four or five players to go get LeBron James for one year. And the unanimous answer was no, they wouldn’t."
"Now, the stakes change a lot if LeBron James ever became a free agent and did some type of buyout in Los Angeles. There, you would have twenty-nine teams lined up for him."
"But from a trade perspective and here’s a hypothetical his former team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, who are in this second apron and have spent a lot of money, they would basically have to trade about six players, Dan, just to go out and get him for one year. And as one team told me, that’s not smart business."
LeBron recently opted into his $52.6 million player option for the 2025–26 season, confirming his return to the Los Angeles Lakers for a record-setting 23rd season. Yet, his agent Rich Paul made waves with a pointed statement that hinted at dissatisfaction: “LeBron wants to compete for a championship. He knows the Lakers are building for the future... but he values a realistic chance of winning it all.”
That cryptic message has fueled speculation that the King might consider forcing a trade if the Lakers can’t deliver a contending roster.
LeBron just averaged 24.4 points, 8.2 assists, and 7.8 rebounds in his 22nd NBA season. From December 30 onward, he was one of just three players to average at least 25-7-7, the others being Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic.
Another factor is off the court: LeBron’s wife, Savannah James, reportedly wants him to retire “in the next year or so.” That revelation, overheard at a recent dinner in New York, has added another wrinkle to James’ future. Still, sources close to the family say LeBron is not viewing this upcoming season as a farewell tour.
So while the Lakers remain his home for now, the pressure is building. LeBron wants to win. He’s watching every move the front office makes. If Los Angeles can’t meet his championship standard, the possibility of him leaving or forcing the league to adjust around him remains very real.
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