LeBron James is expected to finish out the 2025-26 season with the Los Angeles Lakers and avoid a change of scenery at the trade deadline, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.
The Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks and Golden State Warriors are all considered to be “plausible destinations” for James if he chooses to continue playing next season, per McMenamin.
The 41-year-old is set to enter free agency during the upcoming offseason after picking up his $52.6 million player option in June 2025.
The Cavaliers, Knicks and Warriors could intensify their efforts to add James in the summer if he chooses to forgo retirement, as all three teams might have their attention elsewhere with Thursday’s deadline approaching.
Cleveland reportedly sent Darius Garland and a second-round pick to the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for James Harden on Tuesday night.
New York and Golden State are also among the most “active suitors” for Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo on the trade market, per ESPN’s Jamal Collier.
As for James, he’s in the midst of his eighth season with Los Angeles. He may choose to return to a Lakers squad that currently boasts a 29-19 record in free agency, but the team could transition to building around Luka Dončić moving forward.
ESPN’s Baxter Holmes also reported Jan. 21 that Lakers governor Jeanie Buss had “privately grumbled” about “what she felt was James’ outsized ego and the overt control that he and Klutch Sports” held over the team at times.
It’s worth noting that both James and Buss have since downplayed the report, though.
The NBA’s all-time leading scorer still hasn’t made up his mind regarding his future beyond his 2025-26 campaign, but it appears as though he’ll spend the remainder of this season in the purple and gold.