Nikola Jokic’s longtime agent Misko Raznatovic just set the NBA rumor mill ablaze with a single photo and one cryptic caption. When Raznatovic posted a snapshot of himself on a yacht in Saint-Tropez with LeBron James and Maverick Carter, it already felt calculated. But what sent fans into a frenzy was the caption:
“The summer of 2025 is the perfect time to make big plans for the fall of 2026!”
https://www.instagram.com/p/p:DMk4VTHorgc
In a league where subtle moves often signal massive power plays, this wasn’t just a vacation selfie, it was a message.
LeBron James will become an unrestricted free agent after the 2025-26 season. Though he opted into his $52.6 million player option with the Lakers, it’s becoming increasingly clear that the franchise’s long-term vision is centered around Luka Doncic, not a 42-year-old LeBron. That raises the question: is The King already planning his next move and could it involve the three-time MVP, Nikola Jokic?
It wouldn’t be the first time Denver chased LeBron. The Nuggets made a strong play for him in 2018, but James chose the glitz of Los Angeles over the mountains of Colorado. Now, seven years and two playoff exits at the hands of Jokic later, the tables may have turned.
With Denver still a contender, and Jokic locked in as the best player in the world, adding even a 41-year-old LeBron, especially on a team-friendly deal, could swing the championship window wide open again.
The internet certainly thinks so. One wondered aloud whether Jokic might be the one moving, could LeBron be recruiting the Serbian superstar to join the Lakers and team up with Doncic?
That theory gained some traction after it was revealed that Jokic recently turned down a four-year, $212 million extension. The Lakers, according to reports, have been hoarding cap space for the 2026 free agency period.
But there’s another angle that could be even bigger: business. LeBron’s longtime associate Maverick Carter has been spearheading an ambitious plan to launch a $5 billion international basketball league, and Raznatovic, who represents nearly half of EuroLeague players, would be an ideal partner.
If James does transition into ownership or front office influence post-retirement, tapping into the European talent pool through Raznatovic might be his first big play.
Still, Raznatovic’s post was no accident. LeBron has always been a master of messaging, and this could be a test balloon to gauge fan reaction or even a power play to push the Lakers’ hand. Either way, fans are now looking at the 2026 offseason as LeBron’s potential “last dance.”
Whether it’s in Denver alongside Jokic, in Cleveland for a final homecoming, or running his own league overseas, the gears are clearly turning behind the scenes.
And one thing’s for certain: when LeBron says nothing, that’s usually when he’s planning something big.
