LeBron James looks on track to open the 2025-26 NBA season wearing a Los Angeles Lakers uniform. But with speculation swirling, the bigger question is whether he’ll still be with the team when the season ends.
On paper, the Lakers look better equipped to contend this season. DeAndre Ayton and Marcus Smart add much-needed depth, while Luka Doncic is entering the season in better shape. For LeBron, the chance to chase another title alongside Doncic and this revamped roster could be reason enough to stay.
Still, there’s another side to it. At 40 and on a massive expiring contract, LeBron no longer holds the same untouchable status. The Lakers will build around Doncic, giving them the flexibility to prioritize the future as much as the present. If that path doesn’t align with LeBron, a split could be closer than ever.
That uncertainty leaves the door open for speculation. While he’s expected to wear purple and gold on opening night, Bleacher Report’s Grant Hughes has hinted he could become a trade candidate later in the year.
“Shoehorning LeBron James into any list is good business because his name drives traffic and interest. But his inclusion here isn’t about clicks. It’s fully warranted because the Los Angeles Lakers are clearly no longer his team, and because he’s playing out the last year of his deal before 2026 free agency.
Though his $53 million salary and outsized presence make trade scenarios tricky, James’ status as a ring-chasing star with an expiring contract requires that he be seriously viewed as a candidate to move at the deadline. Excluding him would be a major oversight.
James may want to control his destiny via a trade request, and from the Lakers’ perspective, it’d make sense to get something for him if the alternative is losing him for nothing in free agency.”
