The Los Angeles Lakers have done one really weird thing since the public began speculating about a possible LeBron James trade. L.A. has yet to acknowledge publicly that James opted-in to his player option for 2025-26 to play the upcoming season for $52.6 million.

Lakers’ LeBron James ‘Trade Machine’ Move Gets Brutally Frank Mavs Insider Review originally appeared on Athlon Sports. DALLAS - We are under no grand illusions here.

More trade buzz has been coming up by the day. There have been a lot of connections between James and a return to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Despite all of the trade speculation, there are hurdles to overcome in order for a trade to make sense. A new report has come out regarding the situation between James and the Lakers.