LeBron James’ name lit up Las Vegas during NBA Summer League, but the trade speculation surrounding him is cooling fast.
Despite the headlines and hot takes, actual movement has been nonexistent, and according to ESPN’s Zach Lowe, that’s not likely to change anytime soon.
“I’ve heard it’s kind of gotten quiet now after it was the talk of Summer League,” Lowe said on The Bill Simmons Podcast. “There doesn’t seem to be like a clean solution either way. Everyone’s saying we should expect them to be on the Lakers. That’s my expectation.”
LeBron, still under contract after picking up his $52.6 million player option, holds a no-trade clause and isn’t expected to give up money in a buyout. That reality makes finding a workable deal nearly impossible.
Even hypothetical packages sound shaky. Simmons floated a Miami reunion, to which Lowe responded:
“Like on paper there’s a Heat trade that is not crazy for either team. Andrew Wiggins and Norman Powell for unhappy LeBron in January and maybe some sort of pick swap and maybe that’s all it is as crazy as that sounds. I think for the Lakers Kel’el Ware has got to be in it.”
But does Miami make sense for LeBron at this stage? Even in a down year for the Eastern Conference, the Heat likely aren’t title contenders. And Cleveland, a potential feel-good return destination, can’t legally build a deal due to salary cap restrictions. Meanwhile, the Knicks would need to gut their depth, which defeats the point of acquiring him.
The most realistic path, James stays in L.A. through the 2025–26 season and reassesses in free agency next summer. And as it stands, the Lakers, led by Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, Deandre Ayton, and a retooled roster, are closer to competing than most teams linked to LeBron.
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