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LeBron James Trade Saga Takes Another Twist for Lakers

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Ernesto Cova | Last updated Jul 4, 2025 1:14 PM ET

LeBron James put some pressure on Rob Pelinka and the Los Angeles Lakers.

He didn't discuss a potential contract extension after opting in on the final year of his contract, and his agent talked about his desire to play on a championship-caliber roster.

That fueled countless speculations on social media and in NBA circles about whether James could be traded.

He's been linked to the Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, and Cleveland Cavaliers, but all of those teams have also more or less shut the door on him.

According to Sam Quinn of CBS Sports, it's all because of the new CBA. James is about to make north of $50 million this season, and the financial constraints and penalties of the new CBA make any trade a risky bet:

"The real problems here are financial. Any of these teams could theoretically land James," wrote Quinn. "In the old world, they might have. But the LeBron sweepstakes seem dead on the vine at the moment, unable to generate enough momentum to even really get started. Like so many other moves lately, the possibility of a James trade is getting killed by the new CBA."

James is still one of the best players in the league, but he's not the same player who could single-handedly lead a team to the NBA Finals.

He's admitted that he's not likely to play for much longer, so the risk of trading for him outweighs the potential benefit, at least on paper.

Of course, it can all change in the blink of an eye, but barring a shocking turn of events, James and the Lakers might be stuck with one another.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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