Rich Paul Explains Why LeBron James Won’t Get Traded by Los Angeles Lakers

NBA legend LeBron James won’t get traded by the Los Angeles Lakers, according to his agent, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports Group.

Paul was on “TheTylilShow Live” and said LeBron will remain with the Lakers since the NBA icon has a no-trade clause.

“To answer your question, the man has a no-trade clause,” Paul told Tylil James. “End of story. He has a no-trade clause. It’s up to him. He has a no-trade clause. So, in the event when a player has a no-trade clause and a team wants to trade that player, that player has the ability to say no. That’s in his contract.”

LeBron will make $52.6 million next season in the final year of his contract. If he doesn’t retire after next season, LeBron will become an unrestricted free agent in the offseason of 2026 for the first time since 2018.

A future Hall of Famer, LeBron has had no trade or buyout discussions with the Lakers. The Akron native turns 41 in December. He’s the oldest active player in the NBA.

LeBron appeared in 70 games for the Lakers last season. He averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 8.2 assists. The four-time MVP and four-time Finals MVP made the All-NBA Second Team and finished sixth in MVP voting.

Los Angeles lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the 2025 playoffs in five games despite having LeBron and Luka Dončić. The Lakers are expected to sign Dončić to an extension this weekend. The former Dallas Mavericks superstar is the new franchise player in Los Angeles.

LeBron joined the Lakers in 2018. He guided the organization to the 2020 championship against his old team, the Miami Heat, at the Walt Disney World bubble.

Arguably the best player in NBA history, LeBron became the leading scorer of all time in 2023, passing Lakers great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.