Lakers Insider: LeBron James Won’t Be Traded amid NBA Rumors on Contract and Future

If LeBron James wants to retire with the Los Angeles Lakers, he’ll get his chance.

Jovan Buha of The Athletic said the Lakers have no plans on trading James, even if he opts into the final year of his current contract.

“They’re not going to trade LeBron,” Buha said on his podcast (27:19 mark). “If LeBron is going to end up elsewhere, it’s going to be him opting out and just leaving and signing with another team. Really, the only team that would make sense is the Philadelphia 76ers unless LeBron is willing to sign for the minimum or sign for one of the exceptions. I just want to put that to rest. The Lakers are not trading him.”

James was subject to midseason trade rumors for the first time in his career in 2024 before he and agent Rich Paul shut those down. The Golden State Warriors reached out to the Lakers ahead of the trade deadline and were told in no uncertain terms that James wants to remain in Los Angeles.

James is expected to opt out of his $51.4 million player option for next season, but that’s largely seen as a leverage play for a new contract. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said James could demand a no-trade clause in negotiations for a new deal to ensure he has full control over his fate.

Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal is the only NBA player who currently has a no-trade clause.

Regardless, the Lakers were never going to entertain the idea of trading James and no team would trade for LeBron without knowing he’s 100 percent on board with the move. This is one of those things that should not need to be said. But in the era of social media users burning the midnight oil on the NBA trade machine, coming up with wild fantasy moves is par for the course.

LeBron James is the only person in control of his NBA future, just as he has been his entire two-decade career. Even as he approaches age 40, he’s still far too great on the floor and too influential off it for the power dynamics to shift.