LeBron James NBA Trade Rumors: Knicks, Cavs, Mavericks in the Mix?

It is increasingly possible that LeBron James could end his career in a uniform other than the Los Angeles Lakers.

Whether or not that one final move to a different city transpires this season, next season or three years from now is a different story. But, for the first time in a long time, there is real smoke on the LeBron trade rumors front. Below, we’ll look at all of the latest buzz regarding LeBron possibly moving on from the Lakers.

👑 LeBron NBA Trade Rumors

Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul sent shockwaves across the NBA in late June when he hinted that LeBron could play elsewhere, unless the Lakers make immediate roster moves to improve their standing as a true championship contender.

"LeBron wants to compete for a championship," Paul told ESPN. "He knows the Lakers are building for the future. He understands that, but he values a realistic chance of winning it all. We are very appreciative of the partnership that we've had for eight years with Jeanie [Buss] and Rob [Pelinka] and consider the Lakers as a critical part of his career."

"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. He wants to make every season he has left count, and the Lakers understand that, are supportive and want what's best for him.”

ESPN’s Brian Windhorst was skeptical that LeBron could be on the move, iniatlly, but now believes the door is open a crack.

“I would have said four days ago when LeBron opted into his contract, I would have said there was no chance of him getting traded. At the time, I just didn’t think so,” Windhorst told ESPN Cleveland on July 2. “After having conversations over the last three or four days, I’m no longer saying there is no chance. I am not saying it’s likely, but I cannot responsibly say there’s no chance any more.”

Lakers insider Jovan Buha fanned the flames of LeBron trade rumors earlier this month.

“I want to be careful about I say about LeBron’s relationship with the front office, but I don’t think it’s in the best place right now,” Lakers insider Jovan Buha said on his podcast on July 7. "There’s been no official statement about LeBron opting in, there typically is especially for a player of that magnitude. And [LeBron] has had his stuff on social media … I don’t think things are in the best place they’ve ever been. I’ll just say that.”

🗽 LeBron to Knicks NBA trade rumors

The Lakers are now mostly concerned about building around Luka Doncic, and the best path forward to building a championship roster around him. The days of short-term fixes to appease LeBron appear to be over in Los Angeles. 

“None of the best players in the history of the league have ever been in a situation where they’re on somebody else’s team, where they’re on somebody else’s timeline, and the team is like, ‘we don’t really care what you think about any of this'," said Bill Simmons during a Ringer podcast with NBA writer Rob Mahoney.

"That’s why he’s obviously going to get traded at some point. I think you can lock that one down. It doesn’t seem like he wants to be with the Lakers."

“If you’re the Knicks, you get off all the Karl-Anthony Towns money [by trading him]. And if you’re the Lakers, you get to reboot. You get out of LeBron, who I think is going to be more and more grumbly as the year goes along, because he’s never been in this situation. You bring in Towns, it doesn’t fit your contract timetable, but at least he’s a center. You have two amazing shooters."

The Athletic’s Fred Katz wrote about a potential Knicks - LeBron fit on July 2.

"They could pair a couple of wings, OG Anunoby and either Josh Hart or Mikal Bridges, in a trade for James. They could piece together a trio to offer for James: Anunoby, Robinson and point guard Deuce McBride."

"But Anunoby will make $45 million in 2027-28 and has a player option for the following season, which would eat into the Lakers’ possible cap space two summers from now. Meanwhile, the Knicks - or any other team - may not want to part with three key rotation pieces (and three of their four best defenders) for a 40-year-old.

"The Knicks could justify Towns-for-James with a similar financial argument the Clippers could use in a Leonard-for-James one. New York owes Towns $110 million over the next two seasons. The five-time All-Star has a $61 million player option for 2027-28. Meanwhile, the Knicks are at risk of climbing into the second apron next season, a possibility that does not excite them but could be inevitable if they keep their current top five or six together."

🏀 LeBron to Cavs trade rumors

LeBron stirred things up earlier this month when he wore a “Welcome home” hat while golfing in the Cleveland area. The 40-year-old quickly shot down the rumors himself, saying that he was just supporting merchandise from his own production company, the “Homecoming Network.”

Windhorst discussed the possibility of  a LeBron - Cavs reunion on ESPN Cleveland.

“If the Lakers are trading LeBron James they’re going to want really good stuff for it. With a straight face, I can’t say that [a LeBron trade to the Cavs] is impossible,” Windhorst said. “But you have to understand that [the Cavs] can’t feasibly trade for him.”

Financially, this trade does not make much sense for the Cavs. Cleveland is above the second luxury tax apron, which makes taking on big contracts practically impossible without major roster reconstruction. The Cavs are also not looking to trade away any of their relatively youthful core, who are all in their 20s.

If LeBron is to land back with the Cavs, it will likely come via a buyout.

🗣️ LeBron to Mavericks trade rumors

Buha does not believe that the Lakers will trade LeBron this summer. If the situation becomes untenable, however, then he believes that the Mavericks would be a logical fit as a trade partner with the Lakers.

“I will say there has been some LeBron and Dallas buzz, going on a couple of years now," Buha said on his podcast. "In the summer of 2023, right after Dallas had traded for Kyrie there was that rumor out there that LeBron was going to go to Dallas on a vet minimum contract, and team up with Draymond [Green]. That, of course, did not happen."

"But there has been some buzz, I will say, in the general NBA ether over the last week or two with LeBron and Dallas. If you just look at the situation, the Mavs have Anthony Davis, they have Kyrie Irving, they have Jason Kidd - who LeBron played with on Team USA. He also played under him when Kidd was an assistant with the Lakers. LeBron has said he loved being coached by him. You also have [Mavericks GM] Nico Harrison, who is a former Nike guy. LeBron is Mr. Nike."

“If LeBron does ask out, I would say keep an eye on Dallas."

📊 Lakers betting

Our best NBA betting sites currently have the Lakers with +1600 NBA Finals odds for the 2025-26 season. Only the Thunder, Nuggets, Cavaliers, Knicks, and Rockets have shorter odds.

Luka Doncic currently has +700 NBA MVP odds. LeBron is +15000 to win the award.