The writing was on the wall when LeBron James opted into his contract with the Los Angeles Lakers. His time with the franchise is nearing an end.

Lakers Executive Comments on LeBron James’ Decision Amid Trade Rumors originally appeared on Athlon Sports. LeBron James opted in to his contract with the Los Angeles Lakers for the 2025-26 season. However, the Lakers have not worked out an extension with James, which has fueled rumors that the team may trade him this offseason.

The Los Angeles Lakers' long-term future with 21-time All-NBA forward LeBron James remains weirdly tenuous, even after he picked up his $52.6 million player option with the team for 2025-26. Although James is no longer the two-way wrecking ball he was during his MVP prime,