LeBron James has picked up his $52.6 million player option for the 2025-26 season with the Los Angeles Lakers, but his future is still somewhat uncertain. James could potentially ask for a trade from the Lakers, and team insider Jovan Buha has listed out the four teams that would make the most sense for him.
“I don’t think we’re at the point of him asking out, but if he does, I assume there will be a list,” Buha said. “In terms of teams that would make sense, I came up with four: Dallas, Cleveland, New York, and Golden State. In no particular order.”
Those are four interesting landing spots. James, of course, turned down a chance to go to the Golden State Warriors in 2024. The Warriors had reached out to the Lakers regarding a trade, but he did not want to go there at the time.
That stance could have changed over time, of course, and it would be great to see James and Stephen Curry on the same team. Speaking of things that would be great, his going back to the Cleveland Cavaliers would be rather special as well. James led the Cavaliers to their first and only NBA title in 2016 and could prove to be the piece that gets the current iteration over the finish line.
The New York Knicks would be a fascinating option as well for James. He would make them the clear favorites in the Eastern Conference, depending on what they’d have to give up for him. Being the one to end the Knicks’ long wait for a title would greatly enhance James’ legacy.
Lastly, we get to the Dallas Mavericks, and Buha reports that there have been murmurs about James heading to Texas.
“There has been some buzz, I will say, in the general NBA ether over the last week or two with LeBron and Dallas,” Buha stated. “And if you just look at the situation, they have [Anthony Davis], they have Kyrie [Irving].
“They have Jason Kidd, who LeBron played with in Team USA and then also played under with the Lakers,” Buha continued. “Kidd was [an] assistant on that 2020 title team, and LeBron loved being coached by him. They also have Nico Harrison… He is a former Nike guy, and LeBron is Mr. Nike.”
Despite all this, Buha expects James to stay with the Lakers. He pointed out that this tactic has been used before to pressurize the team into making moves, but later acknowledged that this situation is a bit different than the ones before.
The Lakers would be hoping James ends up staying, as they have absolutely no hope of competing for a title next season without him. Considering the 40-year-old’s contract situation, they won’t get a good-enough haul in return to replace his production.
James averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, 8.2 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game for the Lakers in 2024-25. The 21-time All-Star made the All-NBA Second Team and remains one of the best players in the league.
While there might be some drop-off in James’ production in his 23rd season, you’d still back him to play at an All-NBA level once again. The only question is which team he will be on, come the end of the campaign.
