LeBron James’ camp has had the basketball world talking ever since the superstar exercised his player option for the 2025-26 season. On the day he made that decision, Rich Paul, his longtime agent, made a public statement that many interpreted as a harbinger of a possible trade request.
“We understand the difficulty in winning now while preparing for the future. We do want to evaluate what’s best for LeBron at this stage in his life and career,” Paul said to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
“He wants to make every season he has left count, and the Lakers understand that, are supportive and want what’s best for him.”
It coincides with a sea change in how the Lakers have been looking to do business. Ever since landing generational superstar Luka Doncic in February, they have aimed to build their roster around and for Doncic. That means that, for the first time in his basketball life, James’ team doesn’t revolve around him.
According to an ESPN report, Paul did notify both Doncic and the Lakers before releasing his statement on June 29.
“Before Paul released the statement, he gave a heads-up to Doncic and the Lakers,” wrote Ramona Shelburne and Brian Windhorst.
“Paul called [Lara Beth] Seager (Doncic’s longtime manager), with whom he has a relationship, and wanted to extend an olive branch, sources said. He wanted to make it clear James has always appreciated Doncic’s admiration for him and knows that Doncic understands the business of the league. That this wasn’t a reflection on how James felt about their experience playing together. And Paul suggested that if James eventually made any further moves, he would communicate them.
“James understood the Lakers taking advantage of an opportunity to pivot to the younger superstar. But from James’ perspective, sources said, nuance was sometimes lost during the transition. Doncic had never asked to be a Laker. James, for his part, had chosen L.A., coming in 2018 when the team had missed the playoffs five consecutive seasons, the worst run for the franchise since it moved from Minneapolis. Two years later, James had helped deliver a 17th championship.
“Paul also had to formally inform the Lakers that James intended to pick up the final year of his contract after the team did not engage in any substantial discussions about extending him by a year or two, sources said, as they had twice previously during James’ Lakers’ tenure. It was then that he let the organization know about the coming statement.”
It is starting to appear that Paul’s statement may have been a reaction to the Lakers’ decision to start winding down James’ tenure with them rather than anything preemptive. According to that report by ESPN, the team didn’t offer James an extension that would’ve kept him in the fold past the 2025-26 season.
While some have said James has dropped at least one hint that he’s ready to move on from the Purple and Gold right now, he remains a member of the team — at least for now.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Rich Paul informed Lakers, Luka Doncic before LeBron opted in