Although ESPN’s Brian Windhorst still isn’t expecting the Lakers to trade LeBron James, he said on Wednesday’s episode of First Take (YouTube link) that he doesn’t consider it quite as unlikely as he did a few days ago when reports of the star forward opting in for 2025/26 were accompanied by a “nebulous” statement from agent Rich Paul.
“When the idea of a trade came up, I slammed the door on it,” Windhorst said (hat tip to RealGM). “I said, first off, LeBron wants to be a Laker. If he didn’t want to be a Laker, he could have opted out. He has a no-trade clause. Over the last three days, I have unlocked the door. I wouldn’t say that I’m opening the door. I would just say I’ve unlocked the door. The door I slammed and locked on Sunday, I’m not 100 percent sure.
“That is because my conversations over the last three days have crystalized that the Lakers are essentially viewing LeBron as an expiring contract. And that may sound like a toss-off statement, but that’s not insignificant. LeBron has never been an expiring contract. Quite literally. Never in his 23-year career, over the nine contracts he has signed, over all the different teams he has been on, he has never been on the last year of his contract. He has never been 40 years old. He has never not been the franchise player on his team.”
As has been previously reported, James and the Lakers didn’t have any serious discussions about a new contract that would extend beyond 2025/26. That may signal that LeBron isn’t sure whether he’ll continue playing beyond 2026 — either way, it means he’ll become an unrestricted free agent next summer, since his contract can’t be extended before then.
“What happens to expiring contracts in the NBA? They are viewed as trade pieces,” Windhorst said. “For all those reasons (a trade still seems unlikely)—the money, the fact that LeBron and Luka (Doncic) are still a very formidable duo. The fact that the Lakers are not done with their offseason. The fact that trading him is crazy. The fact that this is being built around Luka and they have to maintain their cap sheet and all of those things. Everything in that makes sense. I’m just unlocking the door because I’m not as convinced as before of it’s impossibility.”
We have more on the Lakers:
- If James did want to be traded, there are teams “who would step up and make offers,” Windhorst said during an ESPN segment on Tuesday evening (YouTube link). With that in mind, Fred Katz of The Athletic considers what it might look like if teams like the Cavaliers, Mavericks, Warriors, Knicks, and Clippers were to try to make a play for the four-time MVP. Cleveland looks like the longest shot out of that group, since the Cavs are operating far above the second tax apron and would have to gut their roster to aggregate contracts and shed enough salary to make a legal trade.
- Addressing the idea of the Lakers trading for Jazz center Walker Kessler, Jovan Buha (YouTube link) reiterates that Utah’s asking price would have to come down for it to be a viable possibility for Los Angeles. “I’ve just heard nothing but they want two picks plus a young player for Kessler,” Buha said. “So the Lakers cannot do that trade. They can give one pick and one young player and a swap. You could throw in a couple swaps. … Take off the protections on the top-four pick in 2027. But I just don’t know if that’s going to be enough for Utah.” Because they’ve traded away their 2027 and 2029 first-round picks already, the Lakers can’t put more than one first-rounder (2031 or 2032) in a trade offer due to the Stepien rule.
- Phoenix big man Nick Richards is reportedly among the veteran centers the Lakers have expressed some level of interest in. The Suns have gotten inquiries from a few teams about Richards, according to John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 (Twitter link), but it’s unclear if they’ll actually move him. As Gambadoro explains, they like Richards as a player and like the idea of having a reliable insurance policy behind Mark Williams, who has battled injuries in recent years.
- In case you missed it, our check-in on the top remaining free agents this morning included Lakers-related items on Deandre Ayton and Damian Lillard.
Windhorst talks out of his backside
Widehorse!
Kessler weakness
3PT 17.6%
FT 52%
Kessler trade value = one pick + one young player + a swap.
Kessler has tons of strength
ESPN absolutely hates that the past 3 days haven’t been all about the Lakers. They are single-handedly keeping the dream alive.
lakers are in the same boat as many older championship teams with too much money to older players so they have nothing to offer to free agents. With LeBron the Lakers are on a wait and see how the season goes. If they are struggling around .500 mark or less near trade deadline LeBron will offered up in trade and LeBron will be asking to get out of there.
This and the fake Giannis trade rumors
Why is Windhorst talking like he’s LeBron’s agent? It’s borderline creepy how obsessed he is with LeBron.
He’s just passing spoon fed news, nothing more nothing less
This is all coming from James/Rich Paul camp
Paul has had 3 different messages the last 3 days each one completely contradicting the prior 24 hr message , each one chalk full of passive aggressiveness
Is it annoying, definitely 100% , but I dont think we should take it out on Windhorst
Do you think LeBron was fishing for another option year and was turned down? That is my feelings about all of this that LeBron is not happy about not getting another option year.
Quite possibly, there’s probably a multitude of things
Loss of pull in org
Ego hit w Luka here now
Lal not making the win now moves he wants
His feelies
But yea def your point is a Big one and perhaps the #1 reason
Lakers 100% in my eyes made the right call to not give him another player option , the tea leaves suggest LBJ wasn’t willing to give an inch on his side (if he’d have chopped 1.5 M we would have the bi-annual as well currently) The fact that an org has finally stood up to him is probably a lil shocking to him today (why I inc feelies) Ofc this all only happens if LBJ is 41 and not 31
That is my same feelings too that Lakers are just saying you can’t hold the option over our heads again playing the wil i or won’t I play next year.
That’s your hate speaking. I’ve heard everything from LBJ orchestrated Luka coming to LA to now he resents him? LBJ had been looking for them to bring in someone to take the burden off of his body. Now he has it. Let’s stop all these stupid narratives. LBJ wasn’t that way when he joined the Heat and deferred too much to Wade. Now at age 40 he suddenly wants it to be all about him and DOESN’T welcome the hero of a young superstar than van help him win at age 40? Yall crazy.
I seriously doubt that’s an issue. That’s zero reason not to bring him back of he wants to come back. Ppl need to use common sense. He’s raised the value of the franchise significantly since signing.
Paul doesn’t make contradicting statements. It’s your assumption that these messages are coming from him.
He was a reporter in Cleveland and got his big break by being LeBron’s mouthpiece. That’s why he’s talking like this about LeBron. When Bron wants to get something out, he gives it to Windy.
Where have you been since 2003? Windbag’s whole career has been built around reporting on LeBron all the time.
Sham’s is the other VP of Communications for Rich Paul.
He opted in cuz no one else was gonna offer him close to 53M for one year? Right?? Be straightforward with us, Windy. If you insult Brawny Sensation in the process, then so be it. I hate all this sugar coating.
Like Windhorst is to Lebron, Davey J’s mouthpiece has spoken!
The Lakers are the only team that can give LeBron $53 million for one season. If other teams had the cap space, they’d throw even more at him without thinking twice. He’s still one of the best in the game, and honestly, he’s worth every penny. The NBA’s a business, and LeBron brings in way more than what they’re paying him on and off the court.
Nobody has 53 million to offer. LeBron was stuck.
LeBron to the Wizards in 2026! They have that sweet cap space ready for him. And the great Wizards will have an exclusive right to brag that they had both goats, him and MJ, on their team!
Make it happen.
Jokic is the GOAT!!!
Lebron for Tatum. C’s right back to favorites in the East. Lakers get to dream on future of Doncic and JT
Good thing you’re just kidding
will bronny be traded with his dad?
Is L.A throwing in a first round pick?
Ainge is never helping the lakers. Why bother, oh it’s the lakers. Just go make up some BS. Lakers are done with LeBron too.
Ainge?
As in Danny Ainge, the guy who won titles with Boston on and off the court. Laker media can try linking Kessler Walker to L.A all they want. It’s not happening.
If the Lakers intends to clear cap space, the new owner should just buy out LBJ’s contract.
But it’s crazy and stupid, lol.
Highly unlikely. Very least with the current CBA Lakers would more than likely be thinking sign and trade to recoup something. I’m sure LeBron would love that though.
Lakers got Ayton …
It’s a mute point
LeBron needs to take his talent to Portland
i love windy. hes great but he tap danced that something serious lmao
LeBron ends the GOAT debate by himself.
If you watch his carreer, Money, influence and being the Center of everything seems more Important to him than winning
He could have taken a paycut to make the Lakers a contender. He could have been a Free agent, able to join every contender He liked (how about a sign and trade with Kumminga?). Instead He needs to be paid by a Team not good enough to win all. Or get traded to a Team not good enough to win after they give up half of their Rotation to Match his salary