NBA executives want to know if LeBron James will ask for a deal after opt-in decision
Source: The New York Times
What is the buzz on Twitter?
ICYMI
@samquinncbs and I reacted to the Deandre Ayton acquisition, as reported in real time. We pointed out about a dozen teams that made the most sense with the Lakers.
We also crossed the four most logical LeBron James teams, and so on! pic.x.com/mj9btl5p48 – 12:26 am
I live on @sportingtrib’s X and talk about LeBron James’ choice to play next season, but maybe not with the Lakers, the Clippers paired the van to Kawhi Leonard and James Harden and poop for the next two years. x.com/i/broadcasts/1: – 11:12 pm
Yossi, I’m going to talk about the LeBron deal.
We’re going to talk about other things, but… we’re talking about the LeBron deal.
x.com/i/broadcasts/1: – 10:24 pm
Live here with @motorcityhoops for five minutes to break down early offseason action
– Check mobile
– Swing keeps Randle, Reed
– Hard deal
– Lebron chooses, but it’s strange
– wayero sexton/nurkic transaction
-Cavs transaction
-More
youtube.com/live/wsnfbznlh pic.x.com/dw6uuyjfiz – 9:53 pm
If LeBron James watches Bronny-Cooper in Vegas on July 10, which of his two teams this season is more likely to play in Los Angeles or Dallas?
I only have half. It’s hard to see the Mavericks can afford a $52 million salary, but if LeBron – 7:45 pm
Tips back and forth montage, because LeBron James’ return to Cleveland makes sense for everyone.
cbssports.com/nba/news/what— 7:08 pm
An entertainment show about the Lakers’ main story this morning…
– Lebron Choice | Is this the last year for the Lakers?
– The market is expensive, no excuses
-DFS becomes a free agent
youtube.com/live/_2aoqlozp shopping – 4:14 pm
LeBron James has warned the Lakers. Will they respond?
foxsports.com/stories/wnba/l – – 3:17 pm
@ocregister Story on LeBron James With Lakers for Lakers for Lakers fut tun of Fortested 23rd NBA season, Dorian Finney-Smith rejected his 2025-26 player option, Dorian Finney-Smith rejected his choice, LAL stands at ocregister.com/2025/06/29/leb ~ 2:26 pm
LeBron’s rumors became so serious that my Cleveland-born brother and I openly discussed “LeBron” as the middle name of my new niece (mid July) if the trade was consistent with the date of her birth. – 2:24 pm
Los Angles Lakers’ offseason plan after LeBron James chooses to participate
youtu.be/rdztxfs7h6s?
By @youtube – 2:20 pm
LeBron Choice | The Lakers Must Built for the Future | Finney-Smith Enters Freedom Agent X.com/i/broadcasts/1: – 1:35 pm
What’s interesting about LeBron of Cleveland Things is that this is almost a guilt-free way to save a bunch of money from the Cavaliers.
They had to be below the second apron to legally acquire him, and he had only one super expensive season to sign a contract. – 1:20 pm
I’ve been patching up the LeBron to Cleveland deal. It’s hard to consider their financial situation. They must be below the second apron to summarize. Currently, they are $20 million higher. So financially, it had to be built around Garland, not Allen. pic.x.com/ph2w1qcyzv – 12:04 pm
LeBron’s income on the court, giving or obtaining…
With the Lakers: $350 million
Heating and the Knights Total: $230 million
I think it’s a lesson from a complex interest or something – 11:57 am
Sources are limited to LeBron James exercising his $52.6 million player option to play for the Lakers and participate in his 23rd NBA season – 11:55 am
After LeBron James chose to sign the contract, Rich Paul made it clear that the Lakers wanted to build a winning roster. There is an unwritten lingering “or other”… – 11:49 am
Report on @SportScenter – LeBron James chose $52.6 million in the 2025-26 season but is evaluating his Lakers future: pic.x.com/zqwejlunqo – 11:41 am
LeBron James chooses to trade $52.6 million with the Lakers next season #NBA
EUROHOOPS.NET/EN/NBA-NEWS/18 * – 11:34 am
Lakers choose between LeBron in offseason
*If Dorian Finney-Smith chooses, the Lakers will have $5.7 million in tax ML.
*If Smith opt out and work with the new team pic.x.com/smoezf0ggl – 11:33 am
The Lakers may be the first apron team chosen by LeBron James if Dorian Finney-Smith returns.
They will be limited to 100% salary and $5.7 million in tax MLE.
They can open up more trade options and $14.1 million in non-tax MLE by reducing their payroll. – 11:21 am
LeBron James and Los Angeles Lakers have 8 consecutive seasons
Leaving Cleveland after the age of 7, leaving Miami after the age of 4, leaving Cleveland again after the age of 4 11:15 am
Break: Cruzzi Sports CEO Rich Paul told ESPN that Los Angeles Lakers’ Lebron James chose his 52.6 million player option for the 2025-26 season.
Paul added: LeBron “knows that the Lakers are building construction for the future…but he values the real opportunity to win everything.” pic.x.com/Q5MT1O2R35 – 11:12 am
More information about the storyline
But before he returned to the court, he had been training in the weight room with his son Lakers defender Bronny James, and sources told ESPN they extended their offseason together with their first offseason after the Paris Olympics last summer. While James has considered retirement every offseason since 2023, a source familiar with James’s thought told ESPN that at this point, James has not yet confirmed that this will be his last season. -VIA ESPN / June 30, 2025
Team sources said LeBron James and the Lakers did not discuss a deal that would begin in 2018 for several years, whether through an extension, or whether he chose to exit and signed a new deal. Instead, James and his camp said a few months ago that there was no discount this time (team sources said the Lakers did not propose any discounted prices because James was respected). – New York Times/June 29, 2025
If the Lakers want to stay flexible in the key years ahead and have the potential to add the next co-star with Luka Dončić after James disappears, it should keep them as flexible as possible. The second reality in today’s NBA means elite talent can shake at any time, and now the owner of this virtual hard hat is facing serious consequences now. – New York Times/June 29, 2025
