LeBron James’ Lakers Trade Demand Odds Explode, Sending NBA Into Frenzy!
Earlier this offseason, LeBron James raised eyebrows when he chose to opt into his contract with the Los Angeles Lakers rather than waiting for a longer, potentially more lucrative extension. The move was unusual for James, who has never opted into a deal during his career, and it sparked speculation about whether the four-time champion could be eyeing an exit from Los Angeles.
That speculation gained a little more fuel this week when Lakers insider and NBA writer Jovan Buha adjusted his own forecast for James’ future. Speaking on his YouTube livestream, Buha revealed he has slightly increased the odds that James could request a trade.
LeBron James’ Future in L.A.: Trade Talk Grows, But Odds Still Favor a Lakers Stay
“My percentages have progressively gone up,” Buha said. “I said like 95% chance he is staying and 5% chance he asks out … I am at like 85-15, which is still decisively in favor of him staying a Laker and I think that’s the overwhelmingly likely outcome here.”
James, who will turn 41 in December, continues to defy time. Last season, he averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 8.2 assists on 51.3% shooting, earned his 21st All-Star nod, and helped guide the Lakers to a third-place finish in the Western Conference. But even with his continued excellence, questions about his final years loom.
Buha pointed to two scenarios that could meaningfully shift the balance toward a trade request. “Two things would have to happen in my opinion for this to drastically change,” he explained. “He announces he is retiring after this year, this is [his] final year, and then the Lakers are, for whatever reason, underperforming around the deadline. Maybe it’s mid to late January, and the Lakers are seventh in the West or eighth in the West.”
In that situation, Buha suggested James could seek a move to chase one more championship. Still, he added, there is no clarity on James’ retirement plans or exactly how the Lakers will perform in the coming season.
For many fans, one hypothetical destination stands above the rest: Golden State. A pairing of James and Stephen Curry would be a seismic shift for the league, joining two of the most influential players in NBA history on the same roster. Yet the path to making it happen is complicated.
“If I’m the Lakers, unless LeBron is demanding out and demanding out specifically to Golden State, I am not entertaining that,” Buha said on his podcast Buha’s Block.
Beyond James’ no-trade clause—which gives him full control over where he would land—there are practical hurdles. The Warriors’ best trade chip is Jonathan Kuminga, a talented young forward with upside. But his lack of reliable shooting and inconsistent defense make him a questionable fit for the Lakers, who are in need of perimeter shooting more than anything else.
And then there’s the matter of legacy. James has never been traded in his career, a point of pride as he has carefully crafted his narrative over two decades. Demanding a trade would mark a significant departure from how he has managed his career. That doesn’t mean it’s impossible—but it would be a monumental decision.
For now, the most realistic scenario remains that James plays out his deal in Los Angeles, then weighs his options in free agency. Golden State could be on the table. Retirement could be, too. Or perhaps another team altogether.
Until James makes his intentions known, the prospect of him teaming up with Curry remains just that: a dream scenario—one that lives more in rumor mills than in reality.
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