NEW YORK — With the NBA trade deadline approaching and several teams considered to be potential future destinations for LeBron James reportedly involved in talks to acquire star-level talent, James is still expected to finish out the season with the Los Angeles Lakers, league sources told ESPN on Tuesday.
James’ longtime friend and agent, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul, said on his “Game Over” podcast in December that James would not be seeking a trade and would finish out his record-setting 23rd season in L.A.
“No,” Paul said on an episode of the podcast released Dec. 9. “Where is he going to go?”
James, 41, has a no-trade clause and would have to approve of any deal the Lakers could try to put together.
Since Paul’s statement, the Lakers have dropped from No. 2 in the Western Conference standings to No. 6, and ESPN’s Baxter Holmes wrote a story published on Jan. 21 that detailed the strained relationship between James and Lakers acting governor Jeanie Buss.
Two days after that story was published, James was asked if he planned to finish the season with the Lakers and he replied: “I’m good … I’m good.”
James’ plans beyond this season remain unknown. He said last week he does not know if he will retire this summer but acknowledged the Lakers’ game that was played Wednesday in Cleveland “very well could be” his last in Northeast Ohio.
As the trade deadline nears, the Cavaliers, the New York Knicks and the Golden State Warriors — all considered plausible destinations for James should he decide to play next season — have been in the news for their pursuit of big-name players.
The Warriors and the Knicks have engaged with the Milwaukee Bucks in trade discussions to acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. Additionally, the Cavs agreed to trade for LA Clippers guard James Harden, Charania reported Tuesday night.
Yet despite the Harden trade — and what other dominoes were to move — James will not be joining a new team before this season is over, league sources told ESPN.
