NBA Exec Finds It ‘Very Strange’ Lakers Haven’t Announced LeBron James Picking Up 2025-26 Player Option

NBA legend LeBron James picked up his 2025-26 player option with the Los Angeles Lakers worth $52.6 million. 

However, the Lakers haven’t announced the move yet. 

One veteran NBA exec told Hoops Wire that he finds it “very strange.”

“Yeah, usually when a star player like LeBron opts into his contract, the team announces the move,” the NBA exec told Hoops Wire. “I find this very strange. Something is definitely going on behind the scenes. I mean, the odds of LeBron getting traded are very, very low. His salary is just too high. 

“But I think LeBron and the Lakers’ front office are butting heads. They haven’t had an impressive offseason at all and then there are rumors that Rob (Pelinka) is saving cap space for 2027. That’s just idiotic when you have LeBron and Luka.”

Noise about James potentially requesting a trade from the Lakers ramped up after his agent, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports Group, issued the following statement to NBA insider Shams Charania of ESPN after LeBron picked up his 2025-26 player option:

“LeBron wants to compete for a championship. 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.

“We understand the difficulty in winning now while preparing for the future. 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.”

James turns 41 next season. The four-time MVP is coming off a stellar campaign. He averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, 8.2 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.6 blocks in 2024-25 and made the All-NBA Second Team. 

Los Angeles was projected to compete for the championship last season after acquiring Luka Doncic, but the purple and gold lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the 2025 playoffs in five games.

If James requests a trade, he can pick where he wants the Lakers to trade him because he has a no-trade clause. 

However, James’ salary makes it very, very hard for a contending team to trade for him.