Although LeBron James exercised his player option with the Los Angeles Lakers, some in the NBA speculate the team may trade him to focus on the future.
That said, one familiar team is drawing the most attention in those talks: the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Third Time’s The Charm? How LeBron Could Wind Up Back in Cleveland
James is dominating NBA headlines after opting to bypass free agency by exercising his $52.6 million player option for the 2025-2026 season.
The future Hall of Famer will return for his 23rd NBA season, but speculation is growing that James may not finish his career in purple and gold but rather in the wine and gold of his hometown Cavaliers.
There is a way for LeBron to retire with the Cavaliers, according to Kevin O’Connor 👀
“LeBron James to the Cavaliers would require getting under the second apron, which would mean losing Jarrett Allen, Darius Garland, and a third guy: probably Max Strus.
“It’s a lot to give up… pic.twitter.com/W19oBxxtRX
— Basketball Forever (@bballforever_) June 30, 2025
This speculation comes after his agent, Rich Paul, commented on the deal, hinting that James could move on if the Lakers aren’t competing.
“LeBron wants to compete for a championship,” Paul said. “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,” Paul added.
A move to Cleveland isn’t that far-fetched. As proposed by CBS Sports’ Sam Quinn, a trade between the two teams isn’t impossible and could work in the Cavaliers’ favor, money-wise.
“From a financial perspective, such a move could even function, stealthily, as a way for the Cavaliers to save a whole lot of money,” Quinn writes. “As we covered, they’d have to duck below the second apron just to make a legal trade. That represents an enormous amount of actual cash where the luxury tax is concerned, and James isn’t under contract beyond the 2025-26 season.”
It’s this simple to me:
If your goal is to win the 2026 championship then you want to keep LeBron James.
If your goal is to build a sustainable winner around Luka Doncic it makes all the sense in the world to trade LeBron to Cleveland.
No two timelines. Pick one and go for it. https://t.co/Ie0OXxKoV3
— Sam Quinn (@SamQuinnCBS) June 29, 2025
Darius Garland and Jarrett Allen have previously been linked to trade rumors, and the Cavaliers have begun retooling their roster with the addition of Lonzo Ball from the Chicago Bulls. According to ESPN, the team is currently $12 million over the salary cap.
James and the Lakers were bounced out of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs by the Minnesota Timberwolves after a season where the superstar averaged 24.4 points, 8.2 assists, and 7.8 rebounds.
Los Angeles’ blockbuster trade of Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks for Luka Dončić last season left the team thin on depth. If James were to be traded, the Lakers would likely look to add players like Garland or Allen to keep the roster in title contention.
