The 2026 NBA trade deadline might see multiple star players on the move. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Anthony Davis, Trae Young, and other names float around the rumor mill before the Feb. 5 deadline.
Even LeBron James’ name came up as a trade candidate- something that has never happened in his 23-year career. However, the CEO of Klutch Sports Group, Rich Paul, clarified James’ trade candidacy for the remainder of the campaign.
Rich Paul Reveals Why the Los Angeles Lakers Are Unlikely To Trade LeBron James
Paul appeared on a recent episode of the “Fat Joe and Jada” podcast. He explained the biggest reasons why Los Angeles should not trade the 41-year-old.
“He can’t be traded unless he wants to be traded. Even with that being said, it takes two to tango in a trade … If you want to break it down, you can take all 4 positions and name your top 5 he’s in one of your top 5 in all 5 positions outside of center,” expressed Paul.
James has a no-trade clause in his two-year, $101.4 million maximum contract, so he holds the power to veto any trade. The Lakers’ superstar exercised his $52.6 million player option for the 2025-26 season. As a result, he enters next season as an unrestricted free agent. In most cases, expiring contracts serve as valuable assets for contenders or teams seeking future financial flexibility.
Even at 41 years old, James has shown that he can produce across the board when healthy. He puts up 21.7 points, 6.8 assists, and 5.4 rebounds for the season. He averages the lowest amount of points since his rookie campaign, but has never scored fewer than 20 points per game in his career.
However, even if teams want James, they must clear two big hurdles to complete the deal. First, the future Hall of Famer must waive his no-trade clause. Then, they must match his salary, likely forming a huge hole in the team’s depth. Paul echoed the difficulty of trading for James.
Paul Shuts Down Possible Stephen Curry-James Pairing
It seems Paul’s stance on a trade involving James has shifted since last summer. According to Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson, Paul engaged in “very real” conversations with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Clippers, and Golden State Warriors regarding James’ trade availability.
A Stephen Curry-James pairing would shock the NBA world after their epic battles in the NBA Finals from 2015 to 2018. However, the Klutch CEO shut down any trade involving James between Los Angeles and the Golden State.
“I don’t like to get into that … It’s not going to happen. So why are we talking about things that are not going to happen?” said Paul.
Paul appears confident the Lakers’ superstar will remain in Los Angeles past the Feb. 5 trade deadline.
