LeBron James decided to opt in to the final year of his contract with the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday. Normally, a player opting in to a player option year means he wants to stay with his current team, but there has been lots of speculation that James could ask to be traded, especially since the team now revolves around Luka Doncic.
That is because of the type of language Rich Paul, James’ agent, used in a statement he gave to ESPN.
“LeBron wants to compete for a championship,” Paul told ESPN. “He knows the Lakers are building for the future. He understands that, but he values a realistic chance of winning it all. We are very appreciative of the partnership that we’ve had for eight years with Jeanie [Buss] and Rob [Pelinka] and consider the Lakers as a critical part of his career.
“We understand the difficulty in winning now while preparing for the future. We do want to evaluate what’s best for LeBron at this stage in his life and career. He wants to make every season he has left count, and the Lakers understand that, are supportive and want what’s best for him.”
But there are some experts who expect James to stay put, at least for now. Chris Haynes, a veteran NBA reporter, said that there have been no trade discussions between James’s camp and the Lakers.
“He (Paul) told me there has been no trade discussions, there have been no trade talks with the Lakers,” Haynes said.
“… He clearly opted in, and he wants to win. He believes the Lakers have what it takes to maximize Luka’s timeline but also maximize and prioritize his timeline.”
James’ player option for the 2025-26 season will pay him $52.6 million. Once he reports to training camp and the 2025-26 campaign starts, he will be playing in his 23rd NBA season, which will set a new record for the most seasons any player in league history has ever participated in.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Haynes: Rich Paul hasn’t asked the Lakers to trade LeBron James
Reporting by Robert Marvi, LeBron Wire / LeBron Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
