One of the oddest ideas that circulated LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers following the rumors of disgruntlement was one of the all-time great being involved in a buyout. That is not going to happen. Dan Woike and Joe Vardon of The Athletic were adamant about that point.
The pair wrote, "Team and league sources said no discussions about a buyout have occurred between the Lakers and James, the option merely being a pathway discussed by rival teams as they survey the situation."
The Athletic duo noted that there was 'no real reason' for the Lakers to pursue a buyout with James. Los Angeles is 'aiming to contend' while figuring out the best long-term approach with the roster that is to be built around Luka Doncic.
Woike and Vardon commented on there being absolutely no talks between the Lakers and James involving a trade request either. The duo said the expectation is for the four-time champion to be at training camp for Los Angeles when the season begins.
A LeBron James buyout never made any sense
Imagine being the Lakers front office having to inform Doncic that they were happily working towards parting ways with his best running mate for no supplementary support. To take it one step further, not only is James the best teammate Luka presently has, but the four-time Finals MVP was the player who Doncic idolized growing up.
That would have been a tough sell to the superstar point guard who the Lakers are trying to secure on a long-term extension in Los Angeles. Parting ways with one of the 10 best talents in the NBA for no logical reason would not instill a lot of faith in the franchise.
LeBron was named to the All-NBA Second Team in 2024-25. Anyone trying to push the narrative of James being washed, or anything of the sort, is incredibly off the mark.
LeBron being talked about like a geriatric when he just finished 6th in MVP voting is hilarious. He literally improved year over year.
— Jason Timpf (@_JasonLT) July 11, 2025
He has every right to be pissed that they didn’t give him a new 1 + 1.
The Lakers superstar averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, 8.2 assists, 1.0 steal, and 0.6 blocks per game in 70 games for the team last season. James shot 51.3 percent from the field and 37.6 percent from beyond the arc. His true shooting percentage was 60.4, while still posting 7.7 win shares.
James is not at his peak anymore. That much is true. However, the data certainly does not back up any suggestion of LeBron being anywhere close to a liability that is worth simply cutting ties with.
As James gets ready to embark on his record-breaking 23rd season, his future appears to remain in Los Angeles. That should be the case for the 2025-26 season, at the very least.