Report: Lakers have received ‘no indication’ that LeBron would request trade or buyout

A lot of rumors have circulated about forward LeBron James’ future with the iconic Los Angeles Lakers organization as of late, and there are some Lakers fans who are rightfully concerned that James won’t be a member of the team by the start of the coming season.

However, a new report has poured cold water on concerns that James will soon see his stint with the Lakers end via trade or buyout.

According to league sources of The Athletic, the Lakers have not received any indication that James would request a trade or for his contract to be bought out.

“Those same sources said the Lakers have received no indication from James or his representatives that he would request a trade or ask to be bought out of the final year of his contract, which will be his eighth season with the Lakers, the longest consecutive stretch spent with one organization in his career,” Dan Woike and Joe Vardon wrote.

Earlier this week, the Dallas Mavericks were ranked by Bovada as having the best chance to land James before the start of the 2025-26 campaign should he not stick around with the Lakers organization.

Playing with the Mavericks would give James an opportunity to share the floor with two star players with whom he won championships earlier on in his career.

The Mavericks employ big man Anthony Davis and guard Kyrie Irving, and while both players are injury-prone, they’re still elite talents when at full strength.

The Lakers have an elite player in the fold themselves in guard Luka Doncic, and they’re in a solid position to contend in the Western Conference in the coming season after they addressed their hole at the center spot in free agency.

Los Angeles and big man Deandre Ayton agreed to a two-year deal earlier in the offseason, and Ayton provides the Lakers with a bona fide starting center after Jaxson Hayes had to play that role for the team following Davis’ departure.

The report from The Athletic hints that James will still be a member of the storied Lakers franchise by the start of the 2025-26 season, and he will set an NBA record should he suit up in the coming season.

The 2025-26 season will be James’ 23rd season playing in the best basketball league on the planet, and no player has played more than 22 seasons in the lengthy history of the league.