LeBron James is infamous for being passive-aggressive and giving out subtle signals about what may lie next for him in his basketball career. The basketball world has been abuzz about the possibility of him asking the Los Angeles Lakers to trade him after his agent, Rich Paul, made some cryptic comments on Sunday.
He was seen at the Cleveland Cavaliers‘ practice facility as they get ready for summer league play. James, of course, played for the Cavs during the first seven seasons of his NBA career and again from 2014 to 2018.
That appearance surely had people wondering if he is going to force a trade back to the Cavs.
But the superstar took to X (formerly Twitter) to claim that he’s simply back on his home turf in Akron, Ohio, which is just minutes away from Cleveland, and that it’s something he routinely does during the offseason.
And every summer since it was built. I live here still and train every summer. Got damn yall bored man! Go get a plate of food somewhere and enjoy the 4th of July!
— LeBron James (@KingJames) July 4, 2025
For multiple reasons, it would be very hard for the Lakers to work out a trade involving James if he does indeed want out. They would have to receive adequate compensation, and James would have to feel that his destination team would have enough talent remaining in order to immediately contend for the NBA championship.
He has a very rare no-trade clause in his contract, and he’s entering the final year of that contract. Bobby Marks of ESPN said this week that there is no trade market for the 40-year-old.