It’s known that LeBron James will play in 2025 and push off retirement for at least one more season, but where he’ll play is still up in the air.
The 40-year-old forward has expressed his desire to win one more NBA championship before he calls it a career, and his agent Rich Paul admitted that he and James are watching the Lakers’ offseason moves closely to decide whether or not L.A. is the place James feels he can accomplish that goal.
“We understand the difficulty in winning now while preparing for the future,” Paul told ESPN’s Shams Charania. “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.”
James exercised his $52.6 million player option for next season, meaning he’ll be on the Lakers’ roster unless he’s traded elsewhere or the two sides agree to buyout that would make him a free agent and free to sign with another team of his choosing.
The most-likely scenario, according to Dan Woike and Joe Vardon of The Athletic, is James stays put and the Lakers see how far they can get next season with a core of James, Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, and Rui Hachimura, plus free-agent additions Deandre Ayton and Jake LaRavia.
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But if James were to be traded, there’s a clear frontrunner to acquire his services.
According to DraftKings, the Lakers have the best odds (-550) of being James’ team next season, but if he does play elsewhere, the Dallas Mavericks have the next-best odds of being the team James plays for (+300) followed by the Cleveland Cavaliers (+550), Golden State Warriors (+1500), and New York Knicks (+2000).
Per ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, four teams have recently reached out to Paul to express interest in trading for the four-time NBA champion. Fellow NBA insider Scoop Robinson reported that those four teams are the Cavaliers, Mavericks, Warriors, and Los Angeles Clippers.
Though the Cavaliers have been heavily linked to James, a recent report from Hoops Wire indicated they’re only interested in a reunion with the 21-time All-Star in a buyout situation.
Odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
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