{"id":559855,"date":"2026-01-25T12:44:13","date_gmt":"2026-01-25T12:44:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/559855\/"},"modified":"2026-01-25T12:44:13","modified_gmt":"2026-01-25T12:44:13","slug":"lakers-on-the-edge-insider-predicts-a-massive-blow-up","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/559855\/","title":{"rendered":"Lakers on the Edge: Insider Predicts a Massive Blow-Up"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\"LeBron\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGetty\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

LeBron James May End Up Spending His 24th NBA Season With a New Team.<\/p>\n

For months, persistent rumors <\/a>have been swirling that LeBron James<\/a>\u2018 23rd season in the world\u2019s best basketball league could also be his last. ESPN reporter Shams Charania is putting it on the record: his future may no longer be with the Los Angeles Lakers<\/a>.<\/p>\n

On the Pat McAfee Show<\/a>, Charania said: \u201cWhether that comes at the end of this season if LeBron James decides as a free agent to sign somewhere else or he decides to retire or he decides to come back for one more year and decide he wants to retire as a Laker\u2026The end is near however you wanna slice it.\u201d He also predicted that the end of this relationship is near.<\/p>\n

LeBron James Wants to Play and He Wants to Win\"LA<\/p>\n

GettyLeBron James Does Not Want to Wait for His Second-Eldest Son Anymore.<\/p>\n

James is 41 years old. He still wants to play, and above all, he wants to win. And that likely means: if LeBron doesn\u2019t see a shot at his fifth NBA<\/a> title, the superstar will pursue a change.<\/p>\n

This season, the superstar has stepped onto the court in just 26 of a possible 43 games. In those appearances, the 21-time All-Star is still putting up solid numbers: 22.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 6.9 assists. James missed a large chunk of the Lakers\u2019 early season due to a sciatic nerve injury, and the team currently sits fifth in the West with a 27\u201317 record.<\/p>\n

Most recently, the superstar spoke about his future in September. \u201cHowever this journey unfolds this year, I\u2019m fully invested because I don\u2019t know when the end is coming. I know it will be much sooner rather than later,\u201d he revealed before the season started.<\/p>\n

He added that he doesn\u2019t want to wait any longer for his second-oldest son. \u201cHe is a young man. He\u2019s now in Tucson. We\u2019ll see what happens this year or next year. He has his schedule, I have mine, and I\u2019m not sure if they match. We\u2019ll see.\u201d<\/p>\n

Insider Expects a Big Move<\/p>\n

At the beginning of December, things looked very different. In the first episode of the podcast Game Over<\/a> with Max Kellerman and Rich Paul, LeBron James\u2019 agent was directly asked whether James might finish the season with another team. Paul\u2019s answer was short and clear. When asked if a midseason team change was realistic, he said: \u201cNo.\u201d And when pressed on whether LeBron would definitely finish the season as a Laker, he added: \u201cYes. Where would he even go?\u201d<\/p>\n

A few weeks ago, NBA insider Bill Simmons brought up a mega trade. A deal that would rank among the most spectacular in the league. His idea: the Golden State Warriors<\/a> would send Jimmy Butler<\/a> to LA. In return, James would move to Golden State. James has never been \u201ctraditionally\u201d traded in his career. The only time he changed teams was the move from Cleveland to Miami in 2010, which was done as a sign-and-trade.<\/p>\n

The reasoning for Simmons suggestion: With James alongside Stephen Curry<\/a>, the fire at the Warriors could be reignited immediately. That the chemistry between the two men is right has already become clear during international competitions.<\/p>\n

But general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. made it clear: a trade involving Jimmy Butler forward is not currently planned. Rich Paul<\/a> also made clear, that this trade is not going to happen.<\/p>\n

Whether he stays with the Lakers, signs elsewhere, or calls it a career, one thing is clear: LeBron James\u2019 next move will be one of the biggest storylines in the NBA.<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tFabienne Lampe<\/a> Fabienne Lampe is a German sports journalist, covering the NFL, College Football, NBA, and Formula 1 for Heavy Sports. Lampe has years of experience covering the NFL, especially the Atlanta Falcons as their sole German reporter. She has interviewed some of the biggest names in the NFL, including Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson. Lampe also hosts a Formula 1 podcast and works as a play-by-play announcer. More about Fabienne Lampe<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tMore Heavy on Lakers\n\t\t<\/p>\n

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