LeBron James has arguably been the hottest commodity in basketball for nearly 25 consecutive years. The Los Angeles Lakers made the bold move to trade forward Anthony Davis and a first-round pick to the Dallas Mavericks for Luka Doncic before the trade deadline. The swap was a clear sign that Los Angeles is no longer catering to the king’s demands and the subsequent reporting this offseason has been ominous.
Cavaliers Reportedly Not Interested in LeBron James Trade originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
LeBron James has arguably been the hottest commodity in basketball for nearly 25 consecutive years. Ever since he was in high school, he has been at the forefront of the national media, so naturally, he is used to cameras and all the attention being solely on him.
However, for the first time in his basketball life, James is no longer desirable and the writing is on the wall that the end to his storied career is swiftly approaching. The Los Angeles Lakers made the bold move to trade forward Anthony Davis and a first-round pick to the Dallas Mavericks for Luka Doncic before the trade deadline.
The blockbuster deal signaled the first time in James’ career where he is no longer the best player on his team, and not being prioritized by the front office. The swap was a clear sign that Los Angeles is no longer catering to the king’s demands and the subsequent reporting this offseason has been ominous.
ESPN analyst Brian Windhorst reported that the franchise did not inform James of the recent ownership change, but they did inform Doncic. This revelation combined with the fact that the four-time champion has been dropping subtle hints about leaving the Lakers, means that we could see a resolution soon.
James, a native of Akron, spent 11 of his first 15 seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers, so they have been heavily rumored as a potential landing spot. But, a recent report by Sam Amico of Hoops Wire says that Cleveland would only be interested in James in the event that the Lakers buyout his contract.
Sources: Cavaliers Only Interested In LeBron James In Buyout Situationhttps://t.co/tRPREzh3QM
— Sam Amico (@AmicoHoops) July 11, 2025
That seems unlikely, seeing as James picked up a $52.6 million player option. So, it’s hard to imagine Los Angeles paying the 21-time All-Star one-third of their cap space just to go away when they are already strapped for cash.
James, spending what is expected to be his last season in the place he calls home, and the place he started his career would be poetic. Unfortunately, it doesn’t appear to be in the cards, at least not at the moment.
Related: LeBron James Adds Fuel to Cavaliers Trade Rumors With Post on Monday
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 18, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: Basketball
