LeBron James is not going anywhere. At least not this week.
Despite a trade deadline that has already delivered its share of fireworks, James is expected to finish out the season with the Lakers, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.
James holds a full no-trade clause, meaning any move would require his direct approval. None is coming before Thursday.
That comes after a month of noise. ESPN’s Baxter Holmes recently detailed a strained relationship between James and Lakers governor Jeanie Buss, including a revelation that Buss once explored the idea of trading him earlier in his tenure.
Even so, there will be no in-season breakup. Not now.
What happens next is still very much open. James’ contract expires after the season, and he has not indicated whether he plans to re-sign in Los Angeles, play elsewhere, or walk away altogether. At 41, every option remains on the table.
Around the NBA, speculation has already turned to potential landing spots if James chooses to continue. The Cavaliers, Knicks, and Warriors are all viewed as logical possibilities. All three have been active ahead of the deadline.
Cleveland, notably, just made its own swing by acquiring James Harden.
Even at this stage, the production James’ not fallen off. He is averaging 21.8 points, 6.6 assists, and 5.8 rebounds in just over 33 minutes per game. He finished with 25 points and seven assists in Tuesday’s road win over the Nets.
The questions are not about what he can still do. They are about where, and how long, he wants to keep doing it.
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