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There has been major drama between Austin Reaves, LeBron James, and Rich Paul over his comments on Lakers trade rumors and potential moves.
The fallout from ESPN’s bombshell report detailing an alleged rift between Los Angeles Lakers governor Jeanie Buss and LeBron James may not be finished — and NBA insider Chris Haynes believes the timing of its release is telling.
Speaking on Wednesday on SiriusXM NBA Radio, Haynes questioned why the story surfaced now, suggesting that leaks of this magnitude often precede a significant development.
“I just question, ‘Why now?’” Haynes said. “And if it’s ‘why now,’ usually when things like this start to trickle out, something’s about to go down. I don’t know what that is, but that’s usually how this works.”
Haynes’ comments injected new intrigue into an already volatile situation involving the Lakers’ ownership drama, long-term planning, and James’ uncertain future with the franchise.
ESPN Report Details Alleged Rift Between Jeanie Buss and LeBron James
The ESPN story, written by Baxter Holmes, portrayed Buss as having privately soured on James over time, citing team sources who described frustration with what she viewed as his “outsized ego” and the influence of Klutch Sports, which represents James and former Lakers star Anthony Davis.
According to ESPN, Buss bristled at the narrative that James “saved” a floundering franchise when he signed in 2018, rather than Lakers leadership receiving credit for landing him. Team sources told ESPN that James’ camp had informed the organization as early as 2017 that he intended to join the Lakers in free agency the following summer.
The report suggested the dynamic gradually strained the relationship as James’ stature and leverage within the organization continued to grow.
Russell Westbrook Trade Cited as Key Turning Point
LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Russell Westbrook of the Los Angeles Lakers.
GettyLeBron James with Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook.
ESPN identified the Lakers’ ill-fated trade for Russell Westbrook in July 2021 as a major inflection point.
The move, made in part to appease James, backfired spectacularly. Los Angeles finished the 2021–22 season with a 33–49 record and missed the playoffs, marking one of the lowest points of James’ tenure with the team.
According to the report, Buss privately bristled at what she perceived as James’ lack of accountability after the trade collapsed, particularly when he appeared to distance himself publicly from responsibility.
“The distance between Jeanie and James widened after the Lakers traded for Russell Westbrook,” ESPN reported.
ESPN Claims Buss Considered Life After LeBron
The report went further, claiming that in the aftermath of the Westbrook failure, Buss privately mused about not offering James a contract extension — and later even considered trading him.
The LA Clippers were reportedly floated internally as a hypothetical destination, though those discussions occurred before James signed a two-year, $104 million contract in July 2024 that included a no-trade clause.
Holmes’s ESPN story also reported that when the Lakers selected James’ son, Bronny, with the 55th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, Buss privately felt James should have been grateful for the gesture — and believed he was not.
Jeanie Buss Pushes Back, Calls Report ‘Unfair’
LeBron James, left, and Jeanie Buss of the Lakers
GettyLeBron James, left, and Jeanie Buss of the Lakers.
Buss publicly rejected the ESPN characterization, calling the report “completely unfair” to James.
In a statement released to The Athletic’s Sam Amick, Buss said James was wrongly dragged into private family matters tied to Buss sibling infighting.
“It’s really not right, given all the great things LeBron has done for the Lakers, that he has to be pulled into my family drama,” Buss said. “To say that it wasn’t appreciated is just not true and completely unfair to him.”
LeBron’s Contract Situation Adds Context to Timing
Even as Buss denied the notion of a rift, James’ contract status adds another layer to the conversation.
ESPN’s Dave McMenamin reported last summer that James never asked for a contract extension and that the Lakers did not offer one. Instead, the organization pivoted its long-term vision toward Luka Dončić as the franchise’s next centerpiece.
That shift positioned the 40-year-old James to become an unrestricted free agent after this season.
Why Haynes’ Warning Resonates
Viewed through that lens — ownership upheaval, a generational star nearing free agency, and a franchise transitioning its future — Haynes’ warning carries weight.
Leaks rarely surface in a vacuum. And in Los Angeles, where timing often signals intent, the question may no longer be why the report came out — but what comes next.