LeBron's longtime agent Rich Paul sparked some trade speculation when he said James’ priority was trying to make the most of every season he has left before retirement. Paul later reportedly said he had heard from four interested teams after issuing a statement regarding James.

One way or another, LeBron James' time with the Los Angeles Lakers seems to be nearing an end, according to ESPN's Brian Windhorst.

LeBron James's return to the Los Angeles Lakers for the 2025–26 season is no surprise. The way he has gone about it, however, and the franchise's muted reaction to the news is incredibly unusual however, according to ESPN's Brian Windhorst.