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13 hours ago
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Sources: LeBron James retirement buzz gets louder at NBA Summer League
The post Sources: LeBron James retirement buzz gets louder at NBA Summer League appeared first on ClutchPoints. LAS VEGAS — When LeBron James was spotted with his wife, Savannah, and daughter, Zhuri, in the tunnel of the Thomas & Mack Center ahead of the Los Angeles Lakers' second NBA Summer League game on Saturday, the entire NBA media landscape was sent ablaze amid all the speculation about his future. Aside from many in the arena rushing to get a snapshot of LeBron, there were plenty who began asking why the 21-time All-Star was in attendance fresh off his vacation in Puerto Rico, especially given all the questions about whether he would remain with the Lakers as he nears his eventual NBA retirement. For starters, Bronny James is once again headlining the Lakers' Summer League team, and LeBron has consistently prioritized being an exceptional father over everything else. He, Savannah, and the James family have always attended Bronny's games, especially ever since he suffered cardiac arrest in the summer of 2023. Another key reason why LeBron was in Las Vegas, contrary to popular belief on social media, is that he is still on Los Angeles' roster. Ever since James opted into his $52.6 million player option, with Rich Paul's not-so-subtle comments about frustrations with the Lakers setting in, his future has been one of the main talking points around the NBA. This noise grew louder on Monday night when LeBron was once again in the building with his family to watch Bronny and the Lakers play. After emerging from the tunnel, where he shared a moment with San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama and Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star Jalen Williams, James made his way onto the court. There, he was greeted by thunderous applause from the fans inside the Thomas & Mack Center before giving Bronny some pregame words of encouragement. Then came the moment everyone had been waiting to see: how LeBron interacted with his teammates and Lakers executive Rob Pelinka. All was normal on this front. James was smiling and laughing while talking with Austin Reaves, mainly about his new passion for golf, and all the discourse about LeBron not reaching out to or talking to Deandre Ayton was put to bed when he greeted the team's new center. Before sitting down with his wife and daughter, LeBron made sure to shake everyone's hand on the Lakers' sideline, including Pelinka at the end of the line. The Lakers executive seemed to be in a great mood when greeting James. Nothing was out of the ordinary here. LeBron was clearly having a 'proud father moment' with his family before Bronny and the Lakers played their Summer League game, and his body language did not suggest or tell the tale of a player trying to distance himself from his organization. Even so, speculation ran rampant online about what all of this meant for James' future, prompting many fabricated and inaccurate 'reports,' if that's what we want to call them, of a trade involving LeBron being close and multiple teams actively reaching out to try and trade for him during Summer League. Those trade rumors first came up when James opted into his player option, and nothing ever came of them. The truth behind LeBron James trade rumors Los Angeles has not entertained any trade talks regarding James to this point, nor has LeBron discussed a potential trade with the Lakers, multiple league sources confirmed to ClutchPoints at NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. These 'rumored' trade talks have also been shot down by The Athletic, along with the crazy thought that James could be bought out of his contract. There was a lot of speculation about the Dallas Mavericks being at the forefront of James trade talks, yet the two sides have not even discussed such a deal, sources said. This notion was first shot down by Kevin Gray Jr. of DLLS Sports. Other teams that have been connected to James in trade talks previously, like the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers, have also held no real trade talks with the Lakers this offseason. The Cavs can't even make a trade for LeBron work, if they wanted it to, since they are the only active second-apron team in the NBA and are not allowed to aggregate salaries. Although the Warriors have been heavily linked to LeBron in recent years, even going as far as to pursue him before the 2024 NBA trade deadline, there has been zero traction on this front, sources said. If the opportunity became available, Golden State would obviously entertain the thought of pursuing James and pairing him with Stephen Curry at the end of their respective careers. But that's the thing: James doesn't appear to be going anywhere. LeBron opted into his $52.6 million player option for the 2025-26 season, as any sane person having the opportunity to add this kind of money to their bank account would do, and all indications point in the direction of him honoring his commitment to the Lakers. This is also the widespread consensus from rival teams at NBA Summer League, including those who have inquired about James' trade availability in the past. Throughout his entire career, James, and specifically Paul, has made sure to be actively involved in the team's plan. Various organizational decisions, especially regarding roster construction, have been heavily influenced by LeBron and his agent. This was true during his time with the Miami Heat, during his two stints with the Cavaliers, and recently with the Lakers. However, Los Angeles has not operated in James or Klutch Sports' best interest in recent years. If you need any proof of this, just look at the Luka Doncic trade and the fact that the Lakers handed the 26-year-old superstar the keys to the franchise, even though James is still the face of the NBA at 40 years old. It is clear to see where frustrations have mounted for LeBron and Paul in recent years. Without direct input on roster decisions and the team's overall pursuit of a championship, James has been pushed to the side in a sense by the Lakers. Naturally, this leads to trade rumors and theories about whether James has played his final game in a Lakers uniform. Retirement talks surrounding LeBron James intensify For those hoping LeBron will be traded this offseason or finish his career with another team, you may not want to go all-in on that thought. Despite there being obvious frustrations, James has always intended to retire as a member of the Lakers, and this remains the franchise's goal as well, league sources said. Nobody expects James to be anywhere but in Los Angeles by the time the 2025-26 NBA season starts, and there is a sense from some that he would even sign a new contract with the team to ultimately retire with the Lakers, according to ClutchPoints Lakers insider Anthony Irwin. But that is where the big question of LeBron's eventual retirement has come up at NBA Summer League. Many around the league are beginning to connect the dots that James may not sign another contract with the Lakers because he may not sign another contract at all. Everyone knows that retirement is on the horizon for LeBron, and multiple agents, scouts, and rival team representatives shared with ClutchPoints that they believe James is gearing up to announce he will retire after the 2025-26 season. 'Haven't we always talked about Year 23 being his last?' one Western Conference scout told ClutchPoints. 'It is clear he isn't happy with the way things are going with the Lakers, and this would be the best time for him to go out on his own terms. Not to mention, we are out here (in Las Vegas), and the worst-kept secret regarding expansion is that LeBron wants in on the team that will be coming here.' This is the hot discussion around the league right now: Could Year 23 actually be LeBron's final NBA season? While nobody has a definitive answer to this burning question, the belief at NBA Summer League is that James could realistically make this announcement in the coming weeks as the league enters the dog days of August. ESPN's Dave McMenamin speculated about this possibility on Wednesday, only adding fuel to the retirement fire. Neither the Lakers nor James and Paul began discussions about a possible extension this offseason. The fact that nobody is bringing up the idea of an extension, plus LeBron telling ESPN that he has 'nothing to talk about' when turning down a live interview during Summer League, is notable. Hinting at retirement is nothing new for LeBron, as he has been doing so each of the last handful of offseasons. What makes this summer different is that the team's philosophy for winning right now is much different than that of James', and for the first time in years, there is no clarity on what LeBron actually wants. On the flip side of things, why would James retire, especially considering that he wants to go out on top and compete for a championship? That is why there are still a handful of league personnel who believe all of this talk is just what LeBron wants to stir the pot a little bit and put pressure on the Lakers to make title-contending moves right now. LeBron has stated in the past, famously at the 2023 ESPYS, that he will keep playing until he 'can't give it everything on the floor.' Last season, James averaged 24.4 points, 8.2 assists, and 7.8 rebounds per game, resulting in him finishing sixth in the MVP voting. It is pretty clear that the Lakers star is still giving it his all on the floor. But does LeBron still want to do this, especially with the Lakers, when other opportunities are coming his way? Aside from his expected involvement with creating an expansion team in Las Vegas, James has invested himself in a lot of other business ventures. Not to mention, Amazon has also been pushing hard to have LeBron become the face of their NBA coverage once he retires, sources confirmed to ClutchPoints. Front Office Sports first reported on Amazon's long-term interest in James. With a whole new avenue of life presenting itself to him, perhaps this is the right time for James to go out on his terms. Only time will tell what the league's all-time leading scorer decides. Related: LeBron James in 1-man club after Bradley Beal's Clippers move Related: NBA rumors: Cavs, Mavericks, Knicks among teams hoping for LeBron James buyout
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13 hours ago
- Business
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Lakers exec drops ‘silly' take on LeBron James' contract situation
The post Lakers exec drops 'silly' take on LeBron James' contract situation appeared first on ClutchPoints. The Los Angeles Lakers have been busy making moves the last couple of weeks, including signing both Marcus Smart and Deandre Ayton off the buyout market. The moves occurred in the wake of LeBron James choosing to opt into his player option despite his agent Rich Paul making some cryptic statements hinting at a potential desire for his client to get out of Los Angeles. Recently, an anonymous Lakers exec hit back at the notion that player option stipulations in contracts give NBA players an exorbitant amount of power. 'Whenever you sign a player to a deal with an option, you willingly give them the control to initially guide the situation. But this notion that a player option gives the player all of the power is pretty silly,' said the executive, per Keith Smith of Spotrac. 'If they opt out, the team is then a partner in re-signing them or not. If they opt in, then the team is a partner in whatever happens next too. For LeBron, he had a player option and made his decision to opt in. We're just happy that he's still a Laker.' A strange summer for the Lakers The Lakers have made it abundantly clear that their number one priority moving forward is building a championship contender around Luka Doncic, who they acquired at last year's deadline in the most shocking trade in NBA history. This shift in focus has apparently left LeBron James feeling alienated, at least according to Paul's comments, which made it all the more confusing when James opted into his player option with the Lakers instead of looking for greener pastures. James' massive contract makes him an exceedingly difficult player to trade, so it appears he will indeed be staying with the Lakers for the 2025-26 season, which could be his last in the NBA as he approaches 41 years of age. While he's still an elite player, the Lakers are a bit hamstrung in their ability to adequately restructure the roster around Doncic due in large part to the money they owe James, forcing them to make smaller moves like the Smart and Ayton acquisitions. It remains to be seen whether those signings will be enough to get the Lakers into contention status in the West. Related: Lakers' Marcus Smart signing draws 'winning' proclamation from Rob Pelinka Related: Nike Kobe 9 EM 'China' releasing Holiday 2025
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14 hours ago
- Sport
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Potential LeBron James to Warriors, Jimmy Butler to Lakers Trade Has $57 Million Issue
Potential LeBron James to Warriors, Jimmy Butler to Lakers Trade Has $57 Million Issue originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Since arriving in Los Angeles back in 2018, LeBron James has helped redefine the Lakers' identity, guiding the franchise to its 17th NBA championship in 2020 and adding another Finals MVP to his decorated resume. Even in his 22nd NBA season, the 40-year-old superstar showed little sign of slowing down, averaging 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists, while shooting 51.3% field goal in 70 games last season, proving that he is still one of the most efficient and durable players in the league. Still, there has been talks all summer about James' future and whether his run in purple and gold might be nearing an unexpected end after His agent, Rich Paul, said that James wants to 'compete for a championship.' Later, it was reported by ESPN's Dave McMenamin that four teams had already reached out to gauge what it might take to pry James away from Los Angeles. A follow-up report from Brandon "Scoop B" Robinson revealed the Golden State Warriors were one of those teams. That said, McMenamin also noted that there has been no trade discussions between James and the Lakers yet. This stance was confirmed on Wednesday when Dan Woike and Joe Vardon of The Athletic released an article reinforcing McMenamin's report. 'LeBron James hasn't had buyout, trade discussions with Lakers,' they wrote. 'Both sides expect that he will be with team for training camp.' As it pertains to a potential James to Warriors trade, there is one reason it will not work — the Lakers do not want to take back Jimmy Butler's contract. "The team has been resistant to taking on longer-term contracts in an effort to maintain flexibility," The Athletic wrote. "... if the Lakers were to, hypothetically, trade James to the Golden State Warriors for Jimmy Butler, who is nearly 36, they would have Butler under contract for the 2026-27 season at nearly $57 million." Of course, while all signs point to James remaining on the team next season, there's still the possibility that he could walk in free agency next summer or that the Lakers could look to move him midseason—though being traded is something that's never happened in his legendary career. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 17, 2025, where it first appeared.
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14 hours ago
- Sport
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NBA World Bracing for LeBron James Retirement Announcement
NBA World Bracing for LeBron James Retirement Announcement originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Speculation over LeBron James' future has intensified as he enters his 23rd NBA season. The 40-year-old opted into his $52.6 million player option for the 2025-26 season, marking the first time during his Los Angeles Lakers tenure that he didn't sign a multi-year extension when faced with the ability to do so. That uncertainty sparked rumors that his time in Los Angeles could be nearing an end. Multiple teams, including the Cleveland Cavaliers and Dallas Mavericks, were reportedly linked to James in trade talks. However, those rumors have since been debunked, with The Athletic reporting that there have been no buyout or trade discussions between James and the Lakers. While the Lakers' refusal to offer James an extension was considered a strong indicator that his time in LA is approaching its end, ESPN's Dave McMenamin confirmed the team did not offer James an extension because his camp didn't request it. 'Rich Paul told me there was no extension talk because we didn't ask for an extension," McMenamin reported. "We didn't approach the subject… Rich Paul's point to me was this wasn't a point of tension. 'It's not something that we were pursuing.'' That sentiment has led to growing belief around the league that James may not sign a new contract with LA because he is bracing for retirement following the 2025-26 NBA season, and McMenamin echoed this on Wednesday: "I think we have to start thinking that this could be his last year in the league… I think you look at it like there's a very limited time left in his career. We already kinda knew that since he reached 20 years in the league, he has gone into every offseason contemplating retirement.' On Thursday, ClutchPoints' Brett Siegel added to this reporting, writing the following: 'Everyone knows that retirement is on the horizon for LeBron, and multiple agents, scouts, and rival team representatives shared with ClutchPoints that they believe James is gearing up to announce he will retire after the 2025–26 season.' As first alluded to by McMenamin, and now corroborated by Siegel, the NBA world is bracing for James to soon announce this will be his final season in the league. Should that be the case, James' 23rd season could be his farewell tour, and he will look to go out on a high note—chasing one final championship alongside Luka Doncic to close an iconic career. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 17, 2025, where it first appeared.
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15 hours ago
- Business
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Rich Paul clarifies Draymond Green's CBA rant
The post Rich Paul clarifies Draymond Green's CBA rant appeared first on ClutchPoints. Interest in NBA free agency is seemingly far lower this year than it has been in the past. A lack of available star power is certainly a cause for the diminishing enthusiasm, but fans are also growing increasingly frustrated with the lingering effects of the current Collective Bargaining Agreement. Constructing and retaining super teams in the modern game has become a grueling chore, due to the luxury tax costs for exceeding the now-infamous second apron. Draymond Green recently aired his own grievances. The Golden State Warriors great believes the CBA is hamstringing players and giving more power to owners. He criticized the NBA Players Association for signing on to the deal in June of 2023 and even suggested that he should be union president — Houston Rockets point guard Fred VanVleet was just elected to the post, replacing recent Washington Wizards acquisition CJ McCollum. Green seems most concerned with how players are approaching this new era, citing a lack of understanding on their part. The four-time NBA champion thinks free agents are misplaying their hands because they do not fully grasp the impact the CBA has on their earning potential. A consequence of this added inflexibility and market misinterpretation is an underwhelming free agency period. Green's agent, Klutch Sports Group CEO and founder Rich Paul, elaborated on his thoughts. 'Free agency for us as a league is a very important asset,' Paul told Frank Isola on SiriusXM NBA Radio. 'Not just contracts, but for our fan base as well. Free agency is that moment of connectivity and cool that we should really build around. Part of that has to do with figuring out the aprons and the lack there of flexibility for teams, which I'll leave up to the people that do that, but there's also another aspect to it that could be very fan-attractive. 'I don't want to continue to dampen free agency, because free agency is a very critical part of the brand of the league.' Will Draymond Green and Rich Paul's comments have an effect? Although Paul touches on the issues presently facing the NBA, it is unclear if there is a solution to waning free agency interest, or the limitations on the open market. Stars are still reaping the fruits of their labor, but the next tier or tiers of talent are not necessarily raking in what they want. Just look at the Warriors situation. Jonathan Kuminga remains a restricted free agent, reportedly determined to secure a massive salary in the range of $30 million. However, his perceived worth may not be in line with how Golden State or other teams view it, hence why the whole process is dragging out. Unless players and owners can get on the same page, the free agency problem that both Draymond Green and Rich Paul have discussed will only continue. The question will then become simple. How do the fans respond? Related: Moses Moody, Santi Aldama set for special NBPA Foundation roles Related: Warriors' Buddy Hield reveals embarrassing Gladiator snafu at Colosseum
