LeBron James
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NBA rumors are swirling about LeBron James' future with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James has surprisingly dominated the NBA offseason headlines as a result of a mysterious statement released by the legend’s agent Rich Paul ahead of free agency. James revealed that he was opting in to his deal with the Lakers but seemed to provide a list of conditions.
This has prompted plenty of NBA rumors about potential LeBron James trades once reserved for the wildest ideas while playing the NBA2K video game. The Lakers do not appear intent on trading James, but signs are pointing to the 2025-26 season being the legend’s last in Hollywood.
“The Lakers had already made their statement in not offering James a contract beyond this season,” ESPN’s Brian Windhorst and Ramona Shelburne wrote in a July 11, 2025, story titled, “LeBron James to Luka Doncic: Inside the most delicate superstar transition in NBA history.” “It was abundantly clear that the 21-time All-Star’s time as the face of the Lakers had, for the first time, a planned end date, even if James’ record-setting NBA career did not yet.
“Whether the 2025-26 season is to be James’ final season in the NBA is up to him. But if he wanted the kind of Hollywood ending that only the Lakers can give legends of the game, the release date was set,” Windhorst and Shelburne added.
“Spring, 2026. Luka Doncic in, LeBron James out.”
The Lakers Did Not Offer LeBron James a Contract Extension: Report
It appears the latest point of tension is that the Lakers did not offer James an extension as the star heads into the final year of his $100 million deal. This comes months after all indications are that James had no involvement in the blockbuster Luka Doncic trade back in February.
“From James’ perspective, sources said, nuance was sometimes lost during the transition,” Shelburne and Windhorst explained. “Doncic had never asked to be a Laker. James, for his part, had chosen L.A., coming in 2018 when the team had missed the playoffs five consecutive seasons, the worst run for the franchise since it moved from Minneapolis. Two years later, James had helped deliver a 17th championship.
“Paul also had to formally inform the Lakers that James intended to pick up the final year of his contract after the team did not engage in any substantial discussions about extending him by a year or two, sources said, as they had twice previously during James’ Lakers’ tenure. It was then that he let the organization know about the coming statement.”
LeBron James’ Relationship With the Lakers Is Not in a Good Place: Insider
The challenge for the Lakers is the roster could be competitive with James and Doncic as the centerpieces. Yet, it appears Los Angeles is headed for a season full of rumors about James’ future which is hard to view as a positive for their chances to contend.
LeBron James reportedly felt the Lakers didn’t fully value everything he had done while shifting focus to Luka Dončić, per @ramonashelburne & @WindhorstESPN
“James understood the Lakers taking advantage of an opportunity to pivot to the younger superstar. But from James'… pic.twitter.com/RKSxOfIUjp
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) July 11, 2025
Could the Lakers do the unthinkable and begin exploring trades for James? It remains to be seen what the trade value is for a 40-year-old star entering the final season of his current deal and no guarantee that the legend will play beyond 2025-26. Lakers insider Jovan Buha revealed that the marriage between James and the franchise is rocky.
“I want to be careful with what I say about Bron’s relationship with the front office or the organization, but I don’t think it’s in the best place right now, to be completely honest,” Buha stated in a July 7, YouTube episode, per HoopsHype. “As you know, there’s been no official statement about LeBron opting in. There typically is— especially for a player of that magnitude.