LeBron James trade, buyout status revealed ahead of possible Mavericks move

Los Angeles Lakers superstar power forward LeBron James' latest trade and buyout status have been revealed.

The 21-time All-NBA standout, 40, recently picked up his $52.6 million player option for the 2025-26 season, rather than opting to ink a new one-plus-one deal to keep him potentially under Lakers control through 2026-27 with a fresh option.

According to Dan Woike and Joe Vardon of The Athletic, James has yet to talk about a possible buyout or trade with Los Angeles brass.

Woike and Vardon report that one team that has been linked to James this summer (and, really, ever since it traded to add nine-time All-Star guard Kyrie Irving), the Dallas Mavericks, is reticent to surrender meaningful present-day roster pieces in a possible James trade. 

Sources told Woike and Vardon that the Lakers do anticipate the four-time league MVP will be present, with L.A., at the start of training camp in the fall. Those sources have told The Athletic that James and his representatives have not indicated he would demand to be dealt away or would want to discuss a buyout deal

Why the Lakers would want to buy out James from the money he just opted into is anyone's guess.

In a strange statement to Shams Charania of ESPN, James' agent Rich Paul appeared to take issue with the roster building of Lakers owner Jeanie Buss and team president and general manager Rich Paul, despite L.A. pulling off a stunning midseason blockbuster deal for five-time All-NBA First Team guard Luka Doncic.

"LeBron wants to compete for a championship. He knows the Lakers are building for the future. He understands that, but he values a realistic chance of winning it all," Paul said. "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."

Paul certainly appeared to be suggesting that, prior to the Lakers' signing of center Deandre Ayton, he did not feel Los Angeles had enough around James to win a title.

"We understand the difficulty in winning now while preparing for the future," Paul added. "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."

Armed with Doncic, James, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, a presumably motivated Ayton, and new signing Jake LaRavia, the Lakers do at least present a competitive core in a chippy Western Conference.

Projected Los Angeles reserves Gabe Vincent, Jarred Vanderbilt and second-year wing Dalton Knecht could in theory draw some trade interest elsewhere, especially with picks or pick swaps attached as sweeteners. Or perhaps head coach JJ Redick will actually trust them enough to give them meaningful playoff minutes next spring.

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