Four Teams Interested In Trading For Lakers’ LeBron James

James opted in to his 2025-26 player option with the Lakers worth $52.6 million. He’s in the final year of his contract for the first time in his legendary NBA career. 

Los Angeles lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the 2025 playoffs in five games. James turns 41 next season. He’s the oldest player in the NBA and wants to compete for a championship in 2025-26. 

The leading scorer of all time, James made the All-NBA Second Team last season, becoming the oldest player ever to accomplish that feat. He also finished sixth in MVP voting. 

James joined the Lakers in 2018. He guided the franchise to the 2020 championship against the Miami Heat at the Walt Disney World bubble. 

Los Angeles traded Anthony Davis and Max Christie to the Dallas Mavericks for Luka Doncic last season. Doncic is only 26 years old. He’s the new franchise player for the Lakers, who can sign the five-time All-Star to an extension starting on August 2. 

Doncic and James appeared in 23 games together last season. Los Angeles went 15-8 in those games. 

Doncic’s manager, Lara Beth Seager, told NBA reporter Ramona Shelburne of ESPN that Doncic loves playing with James. 

“Luka loves playing with LeBron and has learned so much from him,” Seager said. “He has nothing but the utmost respect for LeBron and considers it an honor to be his teammate.”

The Lakers signed Deandre Ayton and Jake LaRavia and lost Dorian Finney-Smith to the Houston Rockets this offseason.