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Mar 22, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) and Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) on the sidelines against the Chicago Bulls during the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images

Will The Lakers Trade LeBron James?

Originally posted on Hardwood Heroics | By Zane Wright | Last updated Jul 20, 2025 11:58 PM ET

LeBron James and the Lakers are once again at the center of NBA offseason speculation. Despite the fact that James chose to exercise the $52.6 million player option in his contract for the upcoming season, questions have emerged as to whether or not the 40-year-old superstar might be considering other options.

The four-time NBA champion remains one of the best players in the league—one that is still quite capable of being a star player on a championship contending team. With that being said, there is a strong argument to be made that the current version of the Lakers do not provide James with the best opportunity for him to win a fifth ring. Reports have indicated that James is closely monitoring the Lakers’ offseason moves to see if they remain the best fit for him.

All Signs Point To The Lakers Prioritizing Luka Over LeBron

Throughout the offseason, the Lakers have repeatedly indicated that they are aiming to build their roster around Luka Doncic rather than LeBron James. For one, the team opted not to offer James a contract extension this summer, making the 2025-26 season the last season that he is under contract with the Lakers at this point in time.

Furthermore, ESPN recently disclosed that James was not informed beforehand regarding the team’s $10 billion sale from the Buss Family to Mark Walter, leaving him to find out at the same time everybody else did. Doncic, on the other hand, was given a heads up before the sale went through.

The Lakers are also supposedly planning to save cap space for the 2027 offseason in order to pursue a max-level player. Superstars like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic, Karl-Anthony Towns, and more are scheduled to be free agents in 2027. If the Lakers are in fact saving their cap space for future free agents, this is clearly indicative that they are planning for life without LeBron James on their roster.

Could A Trade Actually Happen?

Will The Lakers Trade LeBron James? 2 Jan 7, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) drives to the basket as Dallas Mavericks forward Naji Marshall (13) defends during the second half at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

While the probability of LeBron James being traded before the start of the upcoming season is relatively low, speculation around the league continues to persist. Of course, a trade will not happen unless James directly asks for one, and he has not done so as of yet.

However, the Lakers’ focus on their long-term future with Doncic as their franchise centerpiece could end up becoming concerning from James’ perspective. L.A. could have chosen to go all-in this offseason to put James in a favorable position to contend for another championship, yet they elected not to.

According to Fox Sports, the Dallas Mavericks would be the favorites to acquire LeBron James at +300 odds if he ends up asking for a trade in the near future. James’ two former teams, the Cavaliers and the Heat, currently sit as the next two most likely trade destinations at +600 and +1500, respectively.

This article first appeared on Hardwood Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

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