Discussing LeBron James‘ future in the first of the new ‘Game Over with Max Kellerman and Rich Paul’ podcast for The Ringer (YouTube link), James’ longtime agent, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports, said there’s no chance his client won’t finish the 2025/26 season with the Lakers (hat tip to RealGM).
“Is LeBron, realistically, a guy who could not be on the Lakers at the end of this year?” Kellerman asked.
“No,” Paul quickly replied.
“He will be on the Lakers at the end of this year?” Kellerman said.
“Yeah,” Paul said. “Where’s he going to go?”
James, who is in his record-setting 23rd NBA season, has never been traded over the course of his long NBA career, with the exception of a 2010 sign-and-trade for logistical purposes after he had already decided to leave Cleveland for Miami as a free agent.
Still, there was some trade speculation involving the four-time MVP in the offseason after Paul put out a cryptic statement at the time James exercised his 2025/26 option. That statement referred to LeBron valuing “a realistic chance” of winning a title, recognizing that the Lakers were “building for the future,” and wanting to evaluate what was best for him.
That trade speculation died down within a few weeks when it became clear that James, who holds a no-trade clause, wasn’t actively seeking a deal.
There have been rumblings since then about the possibility that the 2025/26 season could be LeBron’s last in Los Angeles, even if he doesn’t retire, since he’s on an expiring contract and won’t become eligible for an extension before he reaches free agency. The Lakers, meanwhile, have pivoted to building around Luka Doncic and will likely be prioritizing a new long-term contract for Austin Reaves in the summer of 2026. If James doesn’t return, L.A. could open up a significant chunk of cap room to use before re-signing Reaves.
[RELATED: LeBron James Remains Undecided On Playing Beyond This Season]
However, it doesn’t sound as if any decisions about James’ future in Los Angeles will be made until the offseason. With the Lakers off to a 17-6 start and holding the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference, they’re well positioned in the race for playoff positioning and have enough movable assets to pursue in-season upgrades on the trade market to fortify the roster around James, Doncic, and Reaves.
Not many teams can add that amount of money to their cap space. That being said by his agent shows he knows he is out of Laker’s future plans.
Is he retiring or not is the better question. If not, will he join another team on a minimum vet salary?
Hear me out
Three team deal, pistons get LeBron, lakers get Giannis and the buck get like 6 first round picks and young pieces
lol
Aside from Luka and Austin, who – or what combination of players – could they move to upgrade the roster?? That’s why, despite the 17 of 23, it’s hard to envision this Lakers team as a serious contender; I’m glad you reiterated those doubts in the most recent Hoops Chat, Luke. Gone are the days when you can confidently place the weight of the scoring burden on two to three players. Sure, it might work out alright in the regular season. It doesn’t fly though when you’re playing tougher competition for two straight months. In the West, the Lakers and Twolves immediately stand out as teams better suited for the casual 82 rather than the intense 16+. And I honestly don’t see how either can do much in the interim to alter their good – but undeniably flawed – rosters.
Have to disagree on both your points:
1. The Lakers have 5 legit scorers. Bron showed last hand that once he is in shape he can be the sane player as last year (22-25 efficient PPG plus good decision making and assists). Ayton is playing legit great basketball. He had the second highest FG% in the league at 71% and 15PPG). Rui is shooting 46% from three (not a fluke cause he was over 40% prior two years) and he is 59% from 2s. Between the 5 of them they average 115 very efficient PPG.
2. As far as playoffs, Luka’s numbers have always gone up during the playoffs. He loses attention during the regular season at times. Every other day and being able to focus on one team gives the Lakers an advantage with their talent. Not a disadvantage.
Luka, with two bad knees and busted ribs took his team to the finals in 2024. He needed shots in both his legs and his ribs ti get on the court and he was still the best player on there. Playoff Luka is real!
Offense really isn’t the Lakers problem
They have the best defense in the clutch in the whole league.
They definitely don’t have any room though with players. They need Smart healthy, along with their whole rotation players.
They can definitely use another point of attack defender. I wonder with the Clippers ducking if they can pry Derrick Jokes Jr from them before the deadline. He was great point of attack defender in Dallas alongside Luka.
I have very liitle trade scenarios Id actually do with the Lakers THIS year…very little as Im holding out for the summer….but just so happens Kleber and Knecht for Jones Jr and Dunn is one of the only ones
31 pick unprotested 30 swap ofc inc
I think Clips would take that offer from another team but idk bout with us. They both only have 1.5 yrs left and probably don’t gel great with Clips new timeline but I dont think they’d wanna build a Lakers Bear up so nice and fluffy .. Good call tho with Jones, Dunn would be awesome too
Now you’re getting greedy getting Dunn too lol. But yeah if going to give up those picks I’d want definitely ask for both.
The Clippers are likely to have the hammer come down on them soon. Giving up useful players is hardly going to matter to them over the next few years. They’re already a mess, but they will likely have to let Kwahi go, and lose multiple first round picks too.
They will be fine, already are anyway, for at least the next 5 years from being relevant. They already F’d over the league by giving OKC SGA and Williams (and next year their likely very high pick too). They also F’d over the Lakers with the illegal deal they gave Khwai. They’re should be forced to pay the Lakers some penance by the league.
I think that’s about proper value f9or DDJ and Dunn but the cross town thing prolly ends it before it begins. Its really hard to get 1 st rd unpreceded picks along with an unprotected swap so late out leaguewide. I dont think Clips could get greater
I dont think Silver will strip picks and if Clips were to trade for them this deadline Ballmer would 100% get clearance from Silver before doing so . I think a hammer should get dropped but they look so dismal as is maybe a light one is better suited for everyone
Send Ballmer to the bat cave for a year, banish KL for a year (w pay) send Uncle Dennis to Siberia and take some couch coin from Ballmer is fine w me – Taking the picks almost seems medieval at this point and I cant stand Clips either
My wish would be too include Vando instead of Kleber but that would def be getting greedy
That would be the dream. Lakers this offseason should explore trading Vando and Knecht out, pay cash with it say the fill $8 million and may be a second round pick.
That will open up another $17M cap space next year and trade exception. But Vando needs to go!
Last time this happened Stern took away 5 first picks, and the team had to give up the player in question, his salary taken away and became a free agent which meant a team could pick him up for essentially the minimum.
How is KL being paid while not playing a punished? And how is it that different than what he has been doing the last several years.
The punishment cannot be a hand slap, otherwise, what is to keep teams taking the chance of doing it not worth risking?
Ballmer being forced to sell would be out there for me. However, which is more detrimental to the league? What Ballmer’s predecessor said on Yair or what Ballmer is accused of doing? I would say Ballmer for sure. And his predecessor was forced to sell the team.
Silvers no Stern tho
I think their picks will be saved and they will doll out some stuff that hurts LAC in the intermediate while not crushing them for the future future
Its pretty bleak as is
Aside from Luka and Austin (hey, there they are again), is there anyone out there who can accurately predict within, say, 4 points (above or below) what the remainder of the starters and the first guy off the bench will score each game over any given week, let alone a single GAME, of the season?? Someone give it a shot.
Good but flawed roster.
Bench scoring is light Dud but yes I can honestly say your gona get a GREAT 25- 30 points from Rui and Ayton every night combined
Effective fg% thru the roof, great matches with Luka on offence
Offence has little problems…a defense that ranks 20th (with zero signs of help coming) is THE problem here
Yes! Soon LeBron will be averaging 20 points a game.
Ayton and Rui you can count on very efficient 15 points a game each.
Then the others need to pot up a collective 25-25 points a game. Doesn’t matter who steps up each night. Smart and LaRavia are averaging 9 ppg each. Hayes another 6. Again, they need to average about 20 points together and play hard defense.
“As far as playoffs, Luka’s numbers have always gone up during the playoffs”
That’s just a product of volume, not from “losing attention during the regular season”. His efficiency actually goes down in the playoffs:
Career regular season:
.468/.349/.754
Career playoffs:
.461/.347/.737
i would be surprised if lebron doesn’t play next year
who cares. retire already
Jordan, Kobe, Durant, Jokić, Steph
Max kellerman really has a hard time talking basketball . He doesn’t know the game , the rules or the current nba bi laws as witnessed on his last Pod with Bill Simmons’s
It was a struggle for him trying to talk Nba and you could see the wheels spinning in Simmons head ( I’ve made a huge mistake ) but hey let’s put him back in the saddle
I like the ringer and I like Bill but I thought the goal was to distance himself from the espn garbage … this seems opposite and a step in the wrong direction for the Ringer
I doubt it………. Bron will get bought out at TD.
Then go finish his career in Cleveland. Only thing that makes sense.
That makes zero sense. Why would the Lakers buy him out? Ownership can care less about saving money. He is still very useful as he showed last have. And buying him out doesn’t allow the Lakers from taking on any new players. If they need some room to get a waived player before the trade deadline they can buy out Knecht’s or Maxi’s contract.
Negative percent chance that happens lmao. Bronny has a better chance of winning MVP this season than Lebron has of getting bought out and joining the Cavs.
While I don’t think the Cavs thing is happening, let’s not go that far lol.
lmao