LeBron James has opted into his $52.6 million player option for the 2025-26 NBA season with the Los Angeles Lakers, but noise around the league keeps the idea that there’s still a window for a possible trade.
LeBron’s legacy is set. He could walk away today and still be in every GOAT conversation. But he’s not ready to call it a career. Given his history of moving for a better shot at a title, the idea of a late-career switch can’t be dismissed.
However, LeBron turns 41 later this year, and with retirement nearing, teams are cautious. Bobby Marks of ESPN reports that several teams aren’t willing to give up too much for a short-term run with an aging LeBron.
“He’s making $53 million, he’s in the last year of his contract. He’s 40 years old and I talked to numerous teams yesterday and asked that same question: would you give up basically the farm—basically you would have to give up four or five players to go get LeBron James for one year—and the unanimous answer was no, they wouldnt.”
NBA teams don’t believe it’s ‘smart business’ to gut their roster for 40-year-old LeBron James in a potential trade, per @BobbyMarks42
(🎥 @GetUpESPN )
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) June 30, 2025
