LeBron James could be on the move. Again.
According to insider Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson, four NBA teams have officially contacted Rich Paul to express trade interest in the 39-year-old superstar: the Dallas Mavericks, Golden State Warriors, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Los Angeles Clippers. All four franchises see a narrow but tantalizing window to land the league’s most iconic player in what could be the final act of his career.
The Dallas Mavericks have been linked to LeBron James since 2023. At the time, rumblings of forming a superteam around Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving circulated, but the idea was shelved.
However, with Cooper Flagg now in Dallas and Kyrie still under contract, the Mavericks could attempt the boldest of power plays, forming a potential big four: LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving, and Flagg.
To pull it off, Dallas would have to sacrifice much of their depth, names like PJ Washington, Daniel Gafford, and Klay Thompson would almost certainly be included, but from a star-power standpoint, it would be seismic.
Golden State has long admired LeBron from afar. In fact, they made an actual trade offer for James during the 2023 trade deadline, one that was rejected by both the Lakers and James himself.
That hasn’t stopped the Warriors from circling back. With Stephen Curry entering the twilight of his prime, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green still thriving, bringing in LeBron, alongside Bronny James, would electrify the Bay Area.
The idea of Curry and James sharing the floor, once unthinkable after years of rivalry, now suddenly feels possible. Golden State has the contracts and assets to make it happen, especially with Jonathan Kuminga expected to be moved by February.
Then there’s Cleveland, the sentimental favorite and home to two of LeBron’s greatest runs. The Cavaliers have a solid young core in Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen, though their financial situation is tricky. Being in the second apron complicates trade mechanics and roster balancing.
To land LeBron, Cleveland would need to offload at least three players and cut deep into its long-term flexibility. Still, a third stint in wine and gold would be storybook.
The Clippers are the most controversial of the four. Despite expressing internal interest in trading for LeBron, the feeling may not be mutual. James has, in the past, hinted that he would never play for the Clippers after suiting up for the Lakers.
That said, with Paul George gone and Kawhi Leonard aging, the Clippers may push harder than ever. LeBron also has strong ties to Los Angeles and could remain in the city without changing homes, if he were to ever reconsider.
All this comes amid the deepening cold war between LeBron and the Lakers. After picking up his player option for the 2025–26 season, LeBron’s camp released a pointed statement: win now or risk losing him. Since then, reports have flooded in suggesting growing tension between James and the front office.
Sources have indicated that LeBron feels disrespected by the franchise’s recent moves, or lack thereof, and has lost his once-commanding voice in roster decisions. The Lakers’ refusal to offer him an extension, trade for size at his request, or even publicly acknowledge his contract decision has all added fuel to the fire.
What was once a marriage of mutual ambition now feels fractured. While Rich Paul has denied that LeBron has formally requested a trade or opened exit talks, the whispers around the league are getting louder.
LeBron’s cryptic social media posts and the franchise’s increasingly Luka-centric future paint a picture of divergence, not unity.
It’s unclear if any of these four suitors can truly pry LeBron away from the Lakers. He holds a full no-trade clause and remains fiercely loyal to his legacy. Yet, if the tension continues and the Lakers falter early in the season, the unimaginable could become reality. Four teams are lining up. The King might just listen.
