LeBron James has not requested a trade or contract buyout from the Lakers, shutting down recent rumors.
Despite growing speculation around LeBron James future, sources from both the Los Angeles Lakers and the league have made it clear: the four-time NBA champion has not asked for a trade or a contract buyout, per The Athletic.
LeBron James
LeBron James
Position: SF
Age: 40
Height: 203 cm
Weight: 113 kg
Birth place: Akron, United States of America
James, who turns 41 in December, is heading into the final season of his current deal with the Lakers. He opted into the last year of his contract at the end of June, sparking talk about what comes next.
But according to multiple reports, LeBron is not looking to leave Los Angeles. His agent, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul, addressed the situation back in June with a message that drew some attention.
“LeBron knows the Lakers are building for the future, and he also wants to compete for championships,” Paul told The Athletic. “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... We are very appreciative of the partnership that we’ve had for eight years with Jeanie (Buss) and Rob (Pelinka) and consider the Lakers as a critical part of his career.”
Credit AP - Scanpix
That quote was interpreted by some as a sign of tension, but the Lakers continue to deny that there is any friction.
“Yeah, so all the interactions we’ve had with LeBron and his camp, Rich (Paul) in particular, have been positive and supportive,” Lakers president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka said during Saturday’s press conference celebrating Luka Doncic’s contract extension. “The dialogue with him has been open and constant.”
While L.A. has been cautious about giving up future draft capital, the front office has been active in free agency, adding Marcus Smart, Deandre Ayton, and Jake LaRavia—moves that indicate the franchise is still focused on contending.
“Make no mistakes, we’re in ‘win championship now’ mode always,” Pelinka added.
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