The speculation was rampant all around the league when news of James’ decision broke, with rival executives wondering if this was a precursor to a trade request (James, keep in mind, has a no-trade clause and will thus management any such transfer). Or, after all, it may very well be one more try to use strain to the entrance workplace to discover a method so as to add impactful expertise. Both method, it’s turning into more and more clear that — even when James doesn’t retire subsequent summer season — this may very well be his final season in a Lakers uniform.
Supply: New York Times
Supply: New York Times
What’s the excitement on Twitter?
Yossi Gozlan @YossiGozlan
ICYMI
@SamQuinnCBS and I reacted to the Deandre Ayton buyout because it was reported in actual time. We pinpointed a few dozen groups that make sense with the Lakers because the almost definitely suitor.
We additionally went over the 4 most rational LeBron James groups, and extra! pic.x.com/MJ9bTl5P48 – 12:26 AM
ICYMI
@SamQuinnCBS and I reacted to the Deandre Ayton buyout because it was reported in actual time. We pinpointed a few dozen groups that make sense with the Lakers because the almost definitely suitor.
We additionally went over the 4 most rational LeBron James groups, and extra! pic.x.com/MJ9bTl5P48 – 12:26 AM
Arash Markazi @ArashMarkazi
I’m LIVE on the @SportingTrib’s X speaking about LeBron James opting in to taking part in subsequent season however possibly not opting in to being with the Lakers, the Clippers hitching their wagon to Kawhi Leonard and James Harden for the subsequent 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 taking part in subsequent season however possibly not opting in to being with the Lakers, the Clippers hitching their wagon to Kawhi Leonard and James Harden for the subsequent two 12 months and the Poop Cruise. x.com/i/broadcasts/1… – 11:12 PM
Sam Amick @sam_amick
On LeBron James’ contract choice, 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 choice, 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 speak LeBron trades.
We’ll discuss different stuff however… we’re speaking about LeBron trades.
x.com/i/broadcasts/1… – 10:24 PM
Yossi and are I gonna speak LeBron trades.
We’ll discuss different stuff however… we’re speaking about LeBron trades.
x.com/i/broadcasts/1… – 10:24 PM
Sam Vecenie @Sam_Vecenie
Going stay 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 stay 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 prone to play for this season, Los Angeles or Dallas?
I’m solely half-kidding. Laborious to see a situation 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 prone to play for this season, Los Angeles or Dallas?
I’m solely half-kidding. Laborious to see a situation wherein the Mavericks can tackle his $52M wage, but when LeBron – 7:45 PM
Sam Quinn @SamQuinnCBS
Cue the Coming Residence montages as a result of LeBron James returning to Cleveland is sensible for everybody.
cbssports.com/nba/news/what-… – 7:08 PM
Cue the Coming Residence montages as a result of LeBron James returning to Cleveland is sensible 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 Ultimate Yr As A Laker?
-Market For Middle 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 Ultimate Yr As A Laker?
-Market For Middle 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 coming 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 coming 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…
through @YouTube – 2:20 PM
Los Angles Lakers’ offseason plans after LeBron James OPTS IN
youtu.be/rDZtxFS7H6s?si…
through @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 attention-grabbing about this LeBron to Cleveland stuff is that it’s nearly a guilt-free method for the Cavs to avoid wasting 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 attention-grabbing about this LeBron to Cleveland stuff is that it’s nearly a guilt-free method for the Cavs to avoid wasting 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 arduous given their monetary state of affairs. They’d should 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 arduous given their monetary state of affairs. They’d should 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 believe it is 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 believe it is 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 may 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 may 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
Yossi Gozlan @YossiGozlan
Lakers possible a primary apron staff 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 might open up extra commerce choices and the $14.1 million non-tax MLE by lowering payroll. – 11:21 AM
Lakers possible a primary apron staff 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 might open up extra commerce choices and the $14.1 million non-tax MLE by lowering payroll. – 11:21 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 advised ESPN.
Paul provides: LeBron “is aware of the Lakers are constructing for the longer term … however he values a practical 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 advised ESPN.
Paul provides: LeBron “is aware of the Lakers are constructing for the longer term … however he values a practical probability of profitable all of it.” pic.x.com/q5mT1O2R35 – 11:12 AM
Extra on this storyline
However earlier than his return to the courtroom, he had been coaching within the weight room together with his son, Lakers guard Bronny James, sources advised ESPN, their first prolonged offseason collectively after final summer season’s Paris Olympics. And while James has considered retirement every offseason since 2023, a source familiar with James’ thinking told ESPN that at this point, James is not entering next season with any certainty that it will be his last. -via ESPN / June 30, 2025
Workforce 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 supplied this time round (the Lakers, staff sources say, didn’t suggest any type of discounted deal out of respect for James). -via New York Times / June 29, 2025
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 in the present day’s NBA imply that elite skills may shake free at any time, with house owners who pushed for this digital arduous cap now dealing with its grave penalties. -via New York Times / June 29, 2025
