Insiders Say Lakers Want to Move On From LeBron James ASAP

July 11, 2025

Lakers could move on from LeBron James ASAP

Numerous reports on Friday are suggesting that not only is there smoke to the 'Lakers could be done with LeBron James' rumor, but that it's essentially a five-alarm blaze at this point. Insider John Gambadoro writes that the Lakers want to move on from LeBron "ASAP."

Gambo's reaction came to an earlier report from ESPN's Brian Windhorst and Ramona Shelbourne, who wrote: 

The Lakers had already made their statement in not offering James a contract beyond this season. It was abundantly clear that the 21-time All-Star's time as the face of the Lakers had, for the first time, a planned end date, even if James' record-setting NBA career did not yet.  

Whether the 2025-26 season is to be James' final season in the NBA is up to him. But if he wanted the kind of Hollywood ending that only the Lakers can give legends of the game, the release date was set. Spring, 2026. Luka Doncic in, LeBron James out.

Yet, Gambadoro's statement had much more urgency than waiting for something to happen next spring (be that the trade deadline, or the end of the regular season). 

Calling it "the most difficult superstar transition in history," Windhorst & Shelbourne refered to the fact that “When the Buss family agreed to sell a majority stake in the franchise to Mark Walter on June 18, Doncic was given a heads-up and notably posted a congratulations on social media afterward. James was not given the same notice and did not post any public acknowledgement afterward.”

There's even some talk of a potential buyout circulating, and a report that James' hometown team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, with whom he has an NBA championship, would only consider bringing back LeBron if it were on a buyout. 

James had fanned the flames of a potential Cleveland return "with a series of social media posts that referenced his time with his hometown (team)," the ESPN insiders wrote. 

It could be a wild ride ahead for LeBron, the Lakers, and the entire NBA in the weeks and months ahead.  

Photo: © Jerome Miron-Imagn Images


Go To: NFL Rumors | MLB Rumors | NHL Rumors