The LeBron James trade watch is on as soon as he decided to opt into his $52.6 million player option with the Los Angeles Lakers.
James put more pressure on the Lakers’ front office following Rich Paul’s comments explaining his top client’s decision to opt in instead of his customary opt-out and sign a new one-plus-one deal.
“LeBron wants to compete for a championship,” Paul told ESPN. “He knows the Lakers are building for the future. He understands that, but he values a realistic chance of winning it all. 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.”
It sounded like a “Thank you” and “Farewell” message.
“We understand the difficulty in winning now while preparing for the future,” Paul continued. “We do want to evaluate what’s best for LeBron at this stage in his life and career. He wants to make every season he has left count, and the Lakers understand that, are supportive and want what’s best for him.”
Possible LeBron Trade Demand
ESPN’s senior NBA insider Shams Charania, who broke the news, provided more context at SportsCenter.
“So, what we do know is he will be playing a record 23rd NBA season,” Charania said. “Still not sure whether he plays one more season or he has multiple years left, but I’m told he wants to compete for a championship next season, and he is uncertain about the Lakers roster moving forward.”
The Lakers fell in the first round of the playoffs last season despite clinching the No. 3 seed in the regular season. Their lack of frontline depth, particularly at center, cut short the Lakers’ playoff run.
Team president Rob Pelinka repeatedly said in interviews that they will be adding a center this offseason.
“LeBron James clearly is of the mindset that he wants to compete for a championship, and he’s going to be monitoring very closely on the Lakers going to make the moves that put them in position to seriously compete in that vaunted Western Conference,” Charania added. “And then if not, where do those conversations go, that becomes a subplot of this offseason Lakers.”
Luka Trade Builds Tension Between LeBron and Lakers
At the trade deadline in 2024, the Golden State Warriors pursued James, but Paul declined and later on, James reaffirmed his commitment to the Lakers.
“I am a Laker, and I’m happy and have been very happy being a Laker the last six years and hopefully it stays that way,” James said at the time.
However, the dynamics of the relationship between the ageless star and the Lakers dramatically changed when they made a seismic organizational shift, trading James’ close friend Anthony Davis for Luka Doncic midseason.
In the aftermath of the blockbuster trade, ESPN’s Dave McMenamin reported on the tension building up between the Lakers and the 41-year-old James.
“And it wasn’t lost on James’ camp, sources said, that Pelinka prioritized Doncic’s involvement upon his arrival and immediately engaged in the [Mark] Williams trade that he’d asked for, when James had for years wanted the team to trade its picks to improve its roster,” McMenamin reported.
James could have declined his option and sign elsewhere. However, contending teams do not have the cap room to sign him outright. So, if he is to join a contender, it will be via trade.
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