Agent Rich Paul Drops Unexpected Bombshell on LeBron James’ Lakers Future—What It Means for the Season

LeBron James, back in action after that rough bout with sciatica sidelined him at the season’s onset, has seamlessly meshed with the Lakers’ 17-6 run. The guy’s been doing a bit of everything—ready to chip in wherever the team calls. Take Philly for example: without Luka Doncic lighting up the scoreboard, LeBron stepped up with 29 points, no questions asked. What’s striking this time around is how different LeBron’s role is—it’s not the usual “center of the universe” gig he’s carried for years. Instead, he’s adapting to a role that’s more about fitting in than leading a star-driven show. That shift, combined with his upcoming free agency, has stirred trading whispers everywhere—though, remember, LeBron holds a no-trade clause and hasn’t signaled any intention to waive it. His agent, Rich Paul, quickly squashed the trade talk on the “Game Over with Max Kellerman and Rich Paul” podcast. Paul didn’t mince words: LeBron’s sticking with the Lakers this season—end of discussion. The complexity of moving a player of LeBron’s stature—both talent-wise and financially—means the trade deadline is all but off the table. Teams would struggle handling his $52.6 million contract under the strict NBA tax rules, especially when potential suitors like Cleveland, New York, and Golden State are already juggling tight finances. So, while this season’s roster might not be playoff royalty according to Paul, the real drama will unfold this summer, when LeBron becomes a free agent and likely seeks one last hurrah—probably outside Los Angeles. How that farewell tour shapes up, salary-wise and sign-and-trade-wise, is the next big story brewing. Not now, though. Not at the deadline. LEARN MORE

Since returning from the sciatica that cost him the start of the season, LeBron James has blended in perfectly with the 17-6 Lakers, a guy with an all-around game willing to do whatever the team needs on any given night. Most recently, in Philadelphia, that was drop 29 points on the 76ers when Luka Doncic was out.

While the fit works, this is the first time in his career LeBron is on a team not constructed around him, where he is asked to fill a role more than be the star everyone else orbits around. Combine that with LeBron being a free agent after this season, and there has been some online speculation about a trade — despite the fact LeBron has a no-trade clause and has said nothing about waiving it.

Rich Paul, LeBron’s agent, shot down any trade rumors fast on the “Game Over with Max Kellerman and Rich Paul” podcast (produced by The Ringer).

Kellerman: “Is LeBron, realistically, a guy who could not be on the Lakers at the end of this year?”

Paul: “No.”

Kellerman: “He will be on the Lakers at the end of this year?”

Paul: “Yeah. Where’s he going to go?”

Constructing a LeBron James trade creates many of the same obstacles as trading Giannis Antetokounmpo (and explains why he is more likely to be traded during the offseason). LeBron makes $52.6 million this season. In a world of tax aprons, how many teams can take on that large a contract for what would be the No. 2 or 3 player on a championship-caliber team? Beyond that, the teams LeBron might want to join — Cleveland, New York, Golden State — are all up against the tax aprons, with restrictions on what they can do (none can take back more money than they send out) and little room to maneuver.

LeBron was never going to be traded during the season, and he knew that when he picked up his player option.

Paul also said during the interview that he did not believe the Lakers, as currently constructed, are contenders in the West and wouldn’t even make the Western Conference Finals.

This summer, when LeBron is a free agent, things will be different. The conventional wisdom around the league is that LeBron wants to play one more season — a grand farewell tour — and it’s not likely to be with the Lakers. How much of a salary discount he is willing to take to get where he wants to go, or how the Lakers could work with him on a sign-and-trade, remains to be seen, but that is when the action will be. Not at the trade deadline.