The Los Angeles Lakers and the Los Angeles Clippers have reportedly made significant decisions regarding their star players, LeBron James and James Harden, respectively. The Lakers, after a season that fell short of championship expectations, were rumored to be considering major roster changes. LeBron James, despite his age, continued to perform at an elite level, averaging 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per game.
Meanwhile, the Clippers, who had acquired James Harden in a high-profile trade with the Philadelphia 76ers, are said to be evaluating their roster after another disappointing playoff run that ended in a first round exit to the Denver Nuggets.
Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden (1).
Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden (1).
© Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
Harden had notable performances during the season, finishing his 2024-25 campaign with 22.8 points, 8.7 assists, and 5.8 rebounds, but the Clippers failed to make a deep postseason run.
With rumors swirling, ESPN's Brian Windhorst provided clarity on the situation during an appearance on the Rich Eisen Show on Wednesday.
"I also think we’re going to see this action around the draft. There’s not a lot of free agent money out there," Windhorst said. "There’s not a lot of big-name free agents. The two biggest are James Harden and LeBron James. Both of them I think are staying with their teams. LeBron might not even opt out."
This new report indicates that despite speculations about the future of the two former league MVPs, both the Lakers and the Clippers are likely to retain their star players. James is expected to continue with the Lakers, potentially opting into his $52.6 million player option for the 2025-26 season.
Similarly, Harden is anticipated to remain with the Clippers, whether via an opt-in or new deal.