LeBron James has been the subject of trade speculation for the entire offseason, although his agent, Rich Paul, debunked any rumors surrounding the Los Angeles Lakers.
For the first time in his career, LeBron James opted into the final year of his contract and will suit up with the Los Angeles Lakers next season for the price of $52.6 million.
Of course, with months still left in the offseason, James could be traded, and the Dallas Mavericks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, and recently the Denver Nuggets have all been linked to him.
However, matching his salary would take a massive effort by any suitors, and at the end of the day, even in the last year of his deal, James has more power than anyone in the league.
While all 29 other teams likely have some interest in adding James, he can control where he plays and where he will end his career.
Unlike nearly everyone else in the league, James has a no-trade clause and can veto any deal he is in for any reason. The Lakers are yet to formally ask him to approve a trade, and his agent made it clear that he wouldn’t be eager to do it.
“The man has a no-trade clause, end of story,” Rich Paul said. “He has a no-trade clause. It’s up to him. He has a no-trade clause. So, in the event that a player has a no-trade clause and a team wants to trade that player, that player can say no. That’s in his contract.”
His no-trade clause is very well documented, and the number of landing spots suitable for him to waive his rights seems limited, and so far, his staying in LA seems obvious.
After the Lakers added Luka Doncic last season, the direction of the franchise is firmly in his hands. James might be able to veto certain moves, but a core of James, Doncic, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, Deandre Ayton, Dalton Knecht, Marcus Smart, and Jake LaRavia should be enough to compete.
The Lakers know that they can win now with James, so why would they be eager to trade him? At the end of the season, he will be a free agent, and the Lakers will have the means to re-sign him, and if he shows clear signs of regression, LA can simply let him walk, retooling around Doncic and Reaves.
Since James arrived in LA in 2018, he has called the shots and, to an extent, held the organization hostage. While his talents are undeniable, the franchise can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.
