LeBron James’ agent, Rich Paul, hinted that several teams are interested in trading for the NBA superstar, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. However, James himself has denied any interest in a trade with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Four teams have reached out to Paul about potential deals, but none of the conversations were substantive. The Lakers’ roster is currently undergoing changes through free agency, which will give James’ camp a better understanding of the talent around him. James is focused on joining a championship-caliber team, and he wants to be part of a winning situation.
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst disagrees, stating that a trade for LeBron is highly unlikely. The main reason is that James is already making a significant amount of money, which would be difficult to fit into another team’s salary cap. Additionally, James has a no-trade clause, allowing him to choose his destination carefully.
With the Lakers targeting a center to bolster their starting five and DeAndre Ayton being a potential fit, the ball is now in general manager Rob Pelinka’s court. Can he convince James to stay with the Lakers?
Source: https://nypost.com/2025/07/01/sports/rich-paul-adds-four-teams-twist-to-lebron-james-lakers-trade-speculation