LeBron James opting into his $52.6 million player option was predictable; no one expected him to leave that kind of money on the table.
LeBron James
LeBron James
LeBron James
MIN: 35.31
PTS: 24.49 (56.91%)
REB: 7.88
As: 8.04
ST: 1.07
BL: 0.64
TO: 3.64
GM: 75
However, behind the obvious financial move, the possibility of him leaving the Los Angeles Lakers is also a possibility.
With LA once again falling short and no clear path back to championship contention, the idea of LeBron finishing his career elsewhere is gaining momentum.
Rich Paul Addresses Suitors for LeBron's trade
Rich Paul recently told ESPN that four teams had reached out within 24 hours to inquire about LeBron's availability. While no trade request has been made, Paul didn't rule anything out, signaling that everything is on the table.
"LeBron wants to compete for a championship. He knows the Lakers are building for the future. He understands that, but he values a realistic chance of winning it all," Paul said.
Paul also stressed that the current phase of LeBron's career demands a different kind of urgency.
"We understand the difficulty in winning now while preparing for the future. We do want to evaluate what's best for LeBron at this stage in his life and career. He wants to make every season he has left count, and the Lakers understand that, are supportive, and want what's best for him."
Potential LeBron James Return to the Cavaliers
And now, one potential scenario has started to gain serious traction: a return to where it all began.
A LeBron James–Cavaliers reunion, once thought to be a closed chapter, suddenly feels like a real possibility. The fit is intriguing, but the logistics are anything but simple.
James
James
Credit AP – Scanpix
Cap Rules Make a Cleveland Reunion Complicated
LeBron James is set to earn $52.6 million next season, which creates a major challenge for any team trying to trade for him, especially a team like Cleveland.
The Cavaliers are currently over the second tax apron, which means they can't take back more salary than they send out in a trade.
Complicating matters further, no single player on their roster earns close to LeBron's number, so they'd need to package several contracts just to match the salary.
However, under current NBA rules, teams above the second apron aren't allowed to combine multiple salaries in a trade.
That means the Cavs would need to drop below that threshold first—either in a separate deal or as part of a larger multi-team trade.
Realistically, a third team would need to get involved to make the numbers work and allow a LeBron-to-Cleveland scenario to even be possible.
Why the Lakers Might Actually Consider It
Let's be clear, it still feels highly unlikely that the Lakers would actually trade LeBron James.
But for the first time, the idea doesn't sound completely off the table. If nothing else, recent developments have cracked the door open.
Despite his massive contract, there would absolutely be interest across the league. Meanwhile, the Lakers could shift their focus fully to building around Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.
A move like this would also create more financial flexibility, making it easier for the team to secure a long-term extension for Reaves.
So what would the hypothetical trade look like? The third team I chose to include is the Brooklyn Nets.
Last season, the Nets were among the worst three-point shooting teams in the NBA based on shooting percentage.
They ranked 25th in the league, hitting 34.4% from beyond the arc. They could definitely use some shooting, and an experienced shooter like Max Strus could potentially help improve that.
LeBron James Trade to the Cavs Proposal
Cavaliers receive:
LeBron James
Lakers receive:
Jarrett Allen, DeAndre Hunter, Dean Wade, 2026 first round (Nets)
Brooklyn Nets receive:
Could an early second-round exit have an impact?
Cleveland has experienced three consecutive disappointing playoff exits with Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, and Darius Garland as the core, and may need to make some changes.
While, in my opinion, such a move would be premature and unnecessary from their perspective, the reality is that the NBA has surprised us before.
Cavaliers
Cavaliers
Credit Jason Miller/Getty Images/AFP
Especially after Rich Paul's recent statements, it is impossible to rule anything out, every scenario remains on the table.
One of the key things about the trade I proposed is that the Cavaliers would keep their trio, which, from that point of view, does not seem like a bad trade, adding one of the best players in the world, even though he is 40 years old.
Is LeBron worth Cleveland's sacrifice?
LeBron James averaged 24.4 points, 8.2 assists, and 7.8 rebounds last season, shooting efficiently with splits of .513/.376/.782.
As a playmaker, he remains elite ranking once again in the 99th percentile for assist percentage and the 97th percentile for assist-to-usage ratio, figures consistent with his remarkable career averages.
No player in NBA history has sustained LeBron's level of production at this stage of their career, considering his age and the sheer number of seasons behind him.
Still, a closer look reveals some expected declines typical of aging players. Although his numbers remain strong, certain aspects have shifted.
For instance, only 35% of his shot attempts last season were at the rim, the lowest rate of his entire career. Additionally, he was fouled on just 11% of his shots—the fewest since his rookie season in 2005-06.
The biggest concern is his defense. For the first time in LeBron's career, the Lakers actually performed better defensively when he was on the bench.
The Lakers were 6.9 points per 100 possessions worse with James on the floor compared to when he was resting.
We can't overlook the marketing impact and the huge buzz that would surround Cleveland if LeBron returned home for what could be his final shot at a fifth championship ring.
Let's be clear, the Cavs would be an incredibly strong team, at least for a short window, and they'd have a real chance at contending for the title.
With Garland, LeBron, Mobley, and Mitchell, they'd field an elite group of four players who could complement each other well.
LeBron could ease some of the scoring burden from Mitchell, while Mobley could help cover any defensive gaps LeBron might leave. James's experience, playmaking, and leadership would be a powerful addition to Cleveland's young talent.
The question, of course, is whether this makes sense for the long term. Still, no one should underestimate the impact LeBron could have on the Cavaliers next season—and potentially into 2026-27 as well.
What do the Lakers get?
The Lakers would gain a lot from this trade, especially by addressing their biggest need when building around Luka Doncic: a dominant rim protector and center who can run the pick-and-roll alongside him.
Jarrett Allen fits that role perfectly, providing strong defense and valuable offensive contributions. Additionally, the impact of players like DeAndre Hunter and Dean Wade should not be underestimated.
Doncic
Doncic
Credit Getty Images via AFP - Scanpix
Hunter, in particular, is a versatile two-way player who would complement Doncic well.
He's an excellent defender, efficient in attacking closeouts, capable of creating his own shot, and can finish effectively around the basket.
On top of that, this trade could open new opportunities for Austin Reaves. With LeBron currently commanding much of the offensive attention, Reaves often played as a third option.
Moving forward, Reaves could thrive as the Lakers' second option, enjoying more offensive freedom.
The team has expressed strong trust in him, and this could be the perfect opportunity for Reaves to fully utilize everything he has learned spending time alongside LeBron.
This might be the moment for him to step up as a true leader alongside Doncic.
By acquiring Luka Doncic, the Lakers must fully commit to building around him. That doesn't necessarily mean trading LeBron, but the franchise's top priority should be to maximize Doncic's prime.
This involves surrounding him with strong defensive support and constructing a roster tailored to complement his strengths on both ends of the floor.
Vukašin Nedeljković
Vukašin played basketball competitively in his youth, and now contributes to Synergy Sports Technology and Sportradar regarding basketball analysis. He also has experience working as a journalist in Serbia and is passionate about writing basketball articles mainly focused on basketball X's and O's.
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