While NBA superstar LeBron James picked up his $52.6 million player option with the Los Angeles Lakers for the 2025-26 season, it did not guarantee that he would remain in L.A. How the Lakers would handle player acquisition via the draft and free agency led to speculation over whether James could be traded.

Despite the rumor mill, however, trade and buyout scenarios were never discussed between James and the Lakers, according to The Athletic , which added that both sides expect that James will report to training camp in the fall.

Still, James' agent, Rich Paul, raised some eyebrows when he told ESPN that James' team would monitor the Lakers' moves this offseason -- this, even after James picked up his player option.

"LeBron wants to compete for a championship," Paul

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