Crew sources say LeBron James and the Lakers did not discuss deals that would have added years to his Lakers tenure that began in 2018, either by way of extension or with him opting out and signing a new deal. Conversely, James and his camp signaled months in the past that there can be no reductions provided this time round (the Lakers, staff sources say, didn’t suggest any form of discounted deal out of respect for James).
Supply: New York Times
Supply: New York Times
What’s the thrill on Twitter?
Arash Markazi @ArashMarkazi
I’m LIVE on the @SportingTrib’s X speaking about LeBron James opting in to enjoying subsequent season however perhaps not opting in to being with the Lakers, the Clippers hitching their wagon to Kawhi Leonard and James Harden for the following two 12 months and the Poop Cruise. x.com/i/broadcasts/1… – 11:12 PM
I’m LIVE on the @SportingTrib’s X speaking about LeBron James opting in to enjoying subsequent season however perhaps not opting in to being with the Lakers, the Clippers hitching their wagon to Kawhi Leonard and James Harden for the following two 12 months and the Poop Cruise. x.com/i/broadcasts/1… – 11:12 PM

Sam Amick @sam_amick
On LeBron James’ contract determination, what led to it and the way the Luka Doncic issue got here into play for the Lakers, at @TheAthletic
nytimes.com/athletic/64615… – 10:45 PM
On LeBron James’ contract determination, what led to it and the way the Luka Doncic issue got here into play for the Lakers, at @TheAthletic
nytimes.com/athletic/64615… – 10:45 PM

Sam Quinn @SamQuinnCBS
Yossi and are I gonna discuss LeBron trades.
We’ll speak about different stuff however… we’re speaking about LeBron trades.
x.com/i/broadcasts/1… – 10:24 PM
Yossi and are I gonna discuss LeBron trades.
We’ll speak about different stuff however… we’re speaking about LeBron trades.
x.com/i/broadcasts/1… – 10:24 PM

Sam Vecenie @Sam_Vecenie
Going dwell right here in like 5 minutes with @Motorcityhoops to interrupt down the early offseason motion
-Rockets strikes
-Wolves retain Randle, Reid
– Harden deal
-LeBron opts in, however weirdly
-Weirdo Sexton/Nurkic deal
-Cavs offers
-Extra
youtube.com/live/wSNfBZnlh… pic.x.com/dW6UuYJFIz – 9:53 PM
Going dwell right here in like 5 minutes with @Motorcityhoops to interrupt down the early offseason motion
-Rockets strikes
-Wolves retain Randle, Reid
– Harden deal
-LeBron opts in, however weirdly
-Weirdo Sexton/Nurkic deal
-Cavs offers
-Extra
youtube.com/live/wSNfBZnlh… pic.x.com/dW6UuYJFIz – 9:53 PM


Brad Townsend @townbrad
If LeBron James is courtside in Vegas on July 10 to observe Bronny-Cooper, which of the 2 groups is he extra more likely to play for this season, Los Angeles or Dallas?
I’m solely half-kidding. Laborious to see a state of affairs wherein the Mavericks can tackle his $52M wage, but when LeBron – 7:45 PM
If LeBron James is courtside in Vegas on July 10 to observe Bronny-Cooper, which of the 2 groups is he extra more likely to play for this season, Los Angeles or Dallas?
I’m solely half-kidding. Laborious to see a state of affairs wherein the Mavericks can tackle his $52M wage, but when LeBron – 7:45 PM


Sam Quinn @SamQuinnCBS
Cue the Coming House montages as a result of LeBron James returning to Cleveland is smart for everybody.
cbssports.com/nba/news/what-… – 7:08 PM
Cue the Coming House montages as a result of LeBron James returning to Cleveland is smart for everybody.
cbssports.com/nba/news/what-… – 7:08 PM

Allen Sliwa @AllenSliwa
Enjoyable present this morning on KEY Laker Tales…
-Lebron Opts In | Is This Last Yr As A Laker?
-Market For Heart Costly, No Excuses
-DFS Turns into Free Agent
youtube.com/live/_2aOqLOZP… – 4:14 PM
Enjoyable present this morning on KEY Laker Tales…
-Lebron Opts In | Is This Last Yr As A Laker?
-Market For Heart Costly, No Excuses
-DFS Turns into Free Agent
youtube.com/live/_2aOqLOZP… – 4:14 PM

Melissa Rohlin @melissarohlin
LeBron James has issued a warning to the Lakers. Will they reply?
foxsports.com/stories/wnba/l… – 3:17 PM
LeBron James has issued a warning to the Lakers. Will they reply?
foxsports.com/stories/wnba/l… – 3:17 PM

Khobi Price @khobi_price
The @ocregister story on LeBron James choosing up his 2025-26 participant choice with Lakers for an unprecedented twenty third NBA season, Dorian Finney-Smith declining his choice and the place LAL stands getting into free company: ocregister.com/2025/06/29/leb… – 2:26 PM
The @ocregister story on LeBron James choosing up his 2025-26 participant choice with Lakers for an unprecedented twenty third NBA season, Dorian Finney-Smith declining his choice and the place LAL stands getting into free company: ocregister.com/2025/06/29/leb… – 2:26 PM

Sam Quinn @SamQuinnCBS
LeBron rumors have gotten severe sufficient that my Cleveland-born brother in legislation and I are overtly discussing “LeBron” as a center title for my new child niece—due in the course of July—if a commerce aligns with the date of her start. – 2:24 PM
LeBron rumors have gotten severe sufficient that my Cleveland-born brother in legislation and I are overtly discussing “LeBron” as a center title for my new child niece—due in the course of July—if a commerce aligns with the date of her start. – 2:24 PM

Bobby Marks @BobbyMarks42
Los Angles Lakers’ offseason plans after LeBron James OPTS IN
youtu.be/rDZtxFS7H6s?si…
by way of @YouTube – 2:20 PM
Los Angles Lakers’ offseason plans after LeBron James OPTS IN
youtu.be/rDZtxFS7H6s?si…
by way of @YouTube – 2:20 PM


Allen Sliwa @AllenSliwa
Lebron Opts IN | Lakers Have To Construct For Future | Finney-Smith Enters Free Company x.com/i/broadcasts/1… – 1:35 PM
Lebron Opts IN | Lakers Have To Construct For Future | Finney-Smith Enters Free Company x.com/i/broadcasts/1… – 1:35 PM

Sam Quinn @SamQuinnCBS
What’s so fascinating about this LeBron to Cleveland stuff is that it’s nearly a guilt-free manner for the Cavs to save lots of a bunch of cash.
They’d HAVE to get beneath the second apron to legally purchase him, and he’s solely underneath contract for yet another tremendous costly season. – 1:20 PM
What’s so fascinating about this LeBron to Cleveland stuff is that it’s nearly a guilt-free manner for the Cavs to save lots of a bunch of cash.
They’d HAVE to get beneath the second apron to legally purchase him, and he’s solely underneath contract for yet another tremendous costly season. – 1:20 PM

Sam Quinn @SamQuinnCBS
I’ve been tinkering with LeBron-to-Cleveland trades. It’s exhausting given their monetary state of affairs. They’d must get beneath the second apron to combination. Proper now, they’re round $20 million above it. So, financially talking, it must be constructed round Garland, not Allen. pic.x.com/pH2w1qcYzV – 12:04 PM
I’ve been tinkering with LeBron-to-Cleveland trades. It’s exhausting given their monetary state of affairs. They’d must get beneath the second apron to combination. Proper now, they’re round $20 million above it. So, financially talking, it must be constructed round Garland, not Allen. pic.x.com/pH2w1qcYzV – 12:04 PM


Tim Reynolds @ByTimReynolds
LeBron on-court earnings, give or take …
With Lakers: $350 million
With Warmth and Cavs mixed: $230 million
I feel this can be a lesson in compounding curiosity, or one thing – 11:57 AM
LeBron on-court earnings, give or take …
With Lakers: $350 million
With Warmth and Cavs mixed: $230 million
I feel this can be a lesson in compounding curiosity, or one thing – 11:57 AM

Brad Turner @BA_Turner
Sources confined that LeBron James has exercised his $52.6 million participant choice to play for Lakers and play his twenty third NBA season – 11:55 AM
Sources confined that LeBron James has exercised his $52.6 million participant choice to play for Lakers and play his twenty third NBA season – 11:55 AM

Melissa Rohlin @melissarohlin
After LeBron James opted into his contract, Wealthy Paul has made it clear that the strain is on the Lakers to construct a profitable roster. There’s a lingering unwritten “or else” there… – 11:49 AM
After LeBron James opted into his contract, Wealthy Paul has made it clear that the strain is on the Lakers to construct a profitable roster. There’s a lingering unwritten “or else” there… – 11:49 AM


Shams Charania @ShamsCharania
Reporting on @SportsCenter — LeBron James opts in on $52.6 million for the 2025-26 season however is evaluating his Lakers future: pic.x.com/ZQWEJLUNqo – 11:41 AM
Reporting on @SportsCenter — LeBron James opts in on $52.6 million for the 2025-26 season however is evaluating his Lakers future: pic.x.com/ZQWEJLUNqo – 11:41 AM

Eurohoops @Eurohoopsnet
LeBron James opts into $52.6M take care of Lakers for subsequent season #NBA
eurohoops.net/en/nba-news/18… – 11:34 AM
LeBron James opts into $52.6M take care of Lakers for subsequent season #NBA
eurohoops.net/en/nba-news/18… – 11:34 AM

Bobby Marks @BobbyMarks42
Lakers offseason with LeBron opting-in
* Lakers have the $5.7M tax ML if Dorian Finney-Smith opts-in.
* They’ll have the $14.1M non-tax ML if Smith opts-out and indicators with a brand new staff pic.x.com/sMOEZF0gGl – 11:33 AM
Lakers offseason with LeBron opting-in
* Lakers have the $5.7M tax ML if Dorian Finney-Smith opts-in.
* They’ll have the $14.1M non-tax ML if Smith opts-out and indicators with a brand new staff pic.x.com/sMOEZF0gGl – 11:33 AM


Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
8 straight seasons for LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers
Left Cleveland after 7, left Miami after 4, left Cleveland once more after 4 – 11:15 AM
8 straight seasons for LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers
Left Cleveland after 7, left Miami after 4, left Cleveland once more after 4 – 11:15 AM

Shams Charania @ShamsCharania
Breaking: Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James is opting into his $52.6 million participant choice for the 2025-26 season, Klutch Sports activities CEO Wealthy Paul informed ESPN.
Paul provides: LeBron “is aware of the Lakers are constructing for the longer term … however he values a sensible probability of profitable all of it.” pic.x.com/q5mT1O2R35 – 11:12 AM
Breaking: Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James is opting into his $52.6 million participant choice for the 2025-26 season, Klutch Sports activities CEO Wealthy Paul informed ESPN.
Paul provides: LeBron “is aware of the Lakers are constructing for the longer term … however he values a sensible probability of profitable all of it.” pic.x.com/q5mT1O2R35 – 11:12 AM

Extra on this storyline
If the Lakers have any hope of staying nimble in the crucial years to come, and potentially adding the next co-star to put alongside Luka Dončić after James is gone, then it behooves them to maintain as much flexibility as possible. The second-apron realities of at this time’s NBA imply that elite skills might shake free at any time, with homeowners who pushed for this digital exhausting cap now dealing with its grave penalties. -via New York Times / June 29, 2025
Yossi Gozlan: Lakers likely a first apron team with LeBron James opting in and if Dorian Finney-Smith returns. They’d be restricted to one hundred pc wage matches in trades and the $5.7 million tax MLE. They may open up extra commerce choices and the $14.1 million non-tax MLE by lowering payroll. -via Twitter @YossiGozlan / June 29, 2025
Shams Charania: The Lakers perspective is that they’re doing every little thing they will to construct the staff the suitable manner, to attempt to compete for a championship. We all know they’re within the heart market proper now. So that you have a look at facilities like Brook Lopez, Clint Capela, Al Horford, all obtainable out there. They’re even have Dorian Finney-Smith, he’s bought a participant choice determination, $15.4 million participant choice. He also faces a deadline later today, so they’re doing what they can, but LeBron James clearly is of the mindset that he wants to compete for a championship, and he’s going to be monitoring very closely. Are the Lakers going to make the move that puts them in position to seriously compete in that vaulted Western Conference? And then, if not, where do those conversations go that becomes a subplot of this offseason. -via Twitter @ShamsCharania / June 29, 2025