Three teams monitoring LeBron James amid uncertainty with Lakers

LeBron James' agent, Rich Paul, shut down all trade speculation by claiming that he hadn't requested a trade, nor did he have any intention to do so.

Nevertheless, we've seen how quickly things can change in the NBA, and with all the buzz around James and his allegedly fractured relationship with the Los Angeles Lakers' management, other teams will still do their due diligence.

According to ClutchPoints' Anthony Irwin, the Cleveland Cavaliers, Dallas Mavericks and New York Knicks are still keeping tabs on him. However, they will only consider signing him if he's bought out.

"Sources say the Cleveland Cavaliers, Dallas Mavericks and New York Knicks are among the teams waiting for such an end to the James-Lakers relationship," Irwin wrote.

Irwin added that James had to let the Lakers know about his desire to leave right away before the new CBA's constraints prevent any of these teams from getting him.

"If LeBron James is looking to be bought out, it would be in his best interest to put that request in before the season starts," Irwin argued. "Once the season starts, teams above the first apron would no longer be able to do so."

Then again, it's hard to envision a scenario in which buying him out would make any sense for the Lakers.

They could and should look to trade him and get something in return instead of literally paying him not to play for them.

If James does want to leave, which is a big if, he has a no-trade clause in his contract, so he could technically choose his next destination.

As such, the only scenario in which he could be bought out would be if he threatened to hold out and agreed to forfeit most of his impending $51.6 million salary to allow his new team to sign him at a discount.