Trade speculation has been swirling around LeBron James for the past two weeks since his decision to exercise a $52.6MM player option for next season was accompanied by a statement from agent Rich Paul indicating that James will be monitoring the Lakers‘ personnel moves to make sure they’re assembling a championship-level roster.
During today’s broadcast of L.A.’s Summer League game (Twitter video link), Dave McMenamin of ESPN relayed a conversation with Paul, who said James hasn’t asked him to work out a trade and he hasn’t discussed the possibility of a future trade with team officials. McMenamin adds that four teams contacted Paul directly to express interest in acquiring James.
Paul also dispelled a theory that James is upset because the Lakers didn’t offer him a contract beyond 2025/26, with McMenamin saying that Paul and James never asked the team for that.
James was at Saturday’s game to watch his son, Bronny James, and the rest of L.A.’s Summer League squad. McMenamin said he gave LeBron a chance to appear on the broadcast to discuss the situation, but he responded, “I ain’t got nothing to talk about.”
McMenamin states that it’s “business as usual” for the Lakers, who are trying to put together the best possible roster around James and Luka Doncic. He lists their assets in potential deals as their 2031 first-round pick and the expiring contracts of Rui Hachimura, Maxi Kleber and Gabe Vincent. They can open a roster spot by waiving Shake Milton before his $3MM contract for next season becomes fully guaranteed on July 20.
James raised some eyebrows around the league by visiting the Cavaliers’ practice facility last week. Although he explained it’s an annual occurrence because he lives in the area during the offseason, it’s possible that similar incidents will continue throughout the summer and maybe into the season until his future gets settled.
Monitor the situation, lols. Bron doesn’t have the powers he once had. GM James days are over.
He’s got all the power he needs. One suggestion that he’s unhappy and wants out and the Lakers season is over.
Oh L.A would love to trade him. Apart from that, what else can he pull? Lakers are done with this guy. The lakers season is over already.
Love to trade him why? So Luka who hasn’t signed an extension can watch how they treat their star players? Or so they can not capitalize on having two of the 12 best players in the league on their team? Or so Rich Paul can tell all his clients you don’t want to go to the lakers they don’t treat their stars well trust me we can find a better place for you? The Lakers pour handling of this situation is doing them no favors for the future or right now.
lol. I know those poor mistreated players. Poor fella is so hated by the Lakers they’re doling out over 50 million to him.
You can act that way all you want it’s just the facts. The days of shut up and dribble are over. These guys make too much money both on and off the court, and have too much influence. This isn’t the NFL where the league is the star how teams treat players in the NBA especially superstars is noticed by other players and agents.
He’s still got the power… he just “babysitting” his legacy. He’s not gonna ask out – he’ll let it happen organically. He’ll end up with a championship contender, so there’s no need to make it like he’s ASKING to be traded to one of those situations.
The King is dead … Almost … Long live the Luka …
Luka is a top 4 player. LeBron is a top 15 player. Lakers will be a top 4 team in the West again if healthy. Everyone just needs to lock in and this could be a very successful season.
RavensNBA on YouTube:
Those are very good players, but that team is not winning anything of significance as they’re currently constructed.
As I mentioned below, I think the Lakers are getting Beal (it’s the only team that makes sense for Beal for this year, explained why in the other comment). With Ayton (who I think will be very good next year), Luka, LeBron, Beal, Reaves, Rui and some bench, the Lakers are going to be a real threat next year.
Hopefully, they can trade Knech, Vincent and Vando ($27M total) and open up room for some decent bench players to come in.
Beal to the lakers makes zero sense. They already have Luka and Reaves in the backcourt who want touches and shots and don’t play defence. On top of that you have LeBron who ticks all those boxes too.
Beal would be a sixth man on that roster and even then he’d be limited in the amount of touches etc cause of the other stars.
Clippers are the favourite cause it’s LA, they have a better roster and better coach. There is an opening in the starting line up and he’d have the opportunity to take a lot of shots.
Milwaukee makes more sense cause their need for a star in the backcourt and because the east is way easier than the west but he doesn’t want that it seems
The looming threat of an LBJ trade request definitely doesn’t hold the weight that it used to. In fact, considering the return they would get, the Lakers might find a trade desirable. They aren’t going to win with the roster they have, and they’ve already started the Luka era.
Lebron’s never asked for a trade, so the threat of him asking for a trade hasn’t ever had any weight. He just plays out his contract. He doesn’t want the team whom he’s gonna play for to be depleted the trade assets needed to construct a winning team around him.
If healthy this Lakers team can hang with anybody except the Thunder and maybe Cleveland. Houston? Old man KD and no offense if he goes down. Denver? Still a one man show. The Lakers have 2 top 15 players and Reeves is somewhere in the top 50. They’ve also got the role players around them to compliment them.
Future Milwaukee Buck Lebron James. Who’d have thought?
The Lakers are the team most likely to get Bradley Beal. No NBA team will have Beal’s bird rights in 2026. So, if Beal wants to get a new contract in 2026 that will pay him more than the non-tax MLE of $15M, he will have to sign a deal with a team that is going to have cap room in 2026. The Lakers in 2026 will be able to a) sign Beal if they want to keep him for $20-25M, or sign and trade him to another team for much needed assets (first round draft picks, etc).
As I said before the Lakers are very likely to get Beal. They already got Ayton, who I think is going to be better than people are expecting. On top of that they need to trade Knecht, Vincent and Vando (total salaries of $27M) to the Nets (they need high expiring salaries to make minimum NBA salary this year, and Knecht should be a nice carrot for them).
Then use those trade exceptions to get additional good players. They should also sign Swider for minimum contract. The kid is probably the best, most consistent player in the whole summer league this year.
Luka, LeBron, Beal, Ayton, Reaves, Rui and some decent bench they should be a real contenders next year and beyond.
I’ve always liked Bazley , I think if any player is nba worthy from Lakers Vegas squad it’s him
I’d take him over Ben Simmons in a heartbeat , think he might land a spot somewhere in the league – He might be better than Vanderbelt today
What even is the going rate on LeBron?
Bron is old and playing on the last year of his contract. KD just got traded in the last year of his deal but he’s better than LeBron right now and there isn’t the worry of retirement with him either.
He cost the Suns Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the 10th overall pick, and 5 second round picks.
So what a decent young player, a role player a first and then a bunch of seconds.
LeBron and Knetch for Wiggins, Rozier, Jovic, Jacquez and a first ???
LeBron for Zion and Bey??
LeBron and Knetch for Franz and Issac???
LeBron for Allen and Hunter??