LeBron-Knicks: The impossible... possible?

It’s just a rumor – for now, nothing more. But it’s the kind of rumor that feels like it’s getting ready for takeoff, despite some thoughts being elsewhere. And in today’s NBA, where anything seems possible, it’s worth putting this on the record. Just in case. Because Luka Dončić did land in Los Angeles back in February, and just days ago, the Bucks snatched the starting center from the NBA finalists (Myles Turner, Indiana Pacers) thanks to a stunning move: they waived nine-time All-Star Damian Lillard, who will still make over $22 million per year for the next five seasons. So yes – anything can happen. And more and more credible voices in NBA circles believe this particular thing might too. Whether it will or not is still up in the air, but the fact that it could is already a lot.

So here it is: LeBron James could be on his way out of the Lakers, despite opting into his $52.1 million player option for the 2025–26 season – his 23rd in the league and the one in which he’ll turn 41. That’s well over half his life in the NBA. His agent, Rich Paul, made it clear that when there’s that kind of money on the table, you take it. But he also said LeBron knows the Lakers are now Luka Dončić’s team, and that while the franchise needs to build around its future, LeBron wants to chase a fifth championship. The Lakers, unfazed, have been quietly working the market – with one notable move: they jumped at the chance to sign Deandre Ayton after a buyout and made a minor addition in Jack LaRavia to fill the hole left by the departure of the more experienced 3-and-D player, Dorian Finney-Smith.

It’s worth noting just how much Brian Windhorst’s stance has shifted. A trusted LeBron insider and ESPN journalist, Windhorst had dismissed all this talk as smoke just a few days ago, insisting LeBron wasn’t going anywhere. Now? “When Rich Paul said what he said Sunday, it felt vague, almost like he just had to say something. When the idea of a trade came up, I slammed that door shut. Because LeBron wants to play for the Lakers. Otherwise, he’d have hit the market. And he has a no-trade clause. But these past few days, I’ve taken the bolt off that door. I haven’t opened it – but it’s unlocked now. I’m no longer 100% sure a trade won’t happen.”

Windhorst added: “Because from the conversations I’m having, it seems the Lakers are starting to treat LeBron like an expiring contract – someone in the final year of his deal. And that’s not insignificant. LeBron’s never played as an expiring in the literal sense. Across 23 seasons and nine contracts... but then, he’s also never been 40. He’s always been the franchise guy, the number one. This is the first time there’s been no talk of an extension, of a longer deal. That’s never happened to him before.”

And in the NBA, players on expiring contracts are trade chips. Of course, there’s still the money, and the fact that LeBron and Dončić remain a formidable duo. The Lakers are still making moves. And yes, a LeBron trade would be madness – but building around Dončić and keeping long-term flexibility is the new priority. So all scenarios are on the table. And for Windhorst and others, that means they’re no longer closing the door entirely.

From homecoming to the Big Apple

Since then, the speculation has only intensified. Trading a player earning over $52 million, who’s on the last year of his contract, and about to turn 41 – that’s a bold, risky move. Even more so given the very real possibility that his physical decline, which has been steadily delayed, could suddenly arrive. Yet last season, LeBron put up numbers that defied his age: 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per game – still All-Star and All-NBA caliber. Well above what should be possible, including in the playoffs. But the signs are there: only 35% of his shots came near the rim, the lowest rate of his career (29th percentile leaguewide), even if he converted 74% of those (82nd percentile). He drew fouls on just 11% of his attempts – the lowest since 2006. Still, it’s LeBron – and both sporting and business reasons might convince a franchise that he’s worth the gamble.

If LeBron’s chasing a fifth ring, it makes sense to switch conferences. Since 2000, the West has beaten the East in 23 of 26 regular seasons – and the gap may widen this year due to injuries (Lillard, Jayson Tatum, Tyrese Haliburton) in the East, and hyper-aggressive roster building (Rockets, Nuggets) in the West. If LeBron returns East, two teams stand out: the Cleveland Cavaliers and the New York Knicks. Cleveland, his hometown team and 2016 champions during his second stint. And New York – the other marquee franchise, this one from the East Coast, chasing a title since 1973. Both are early consensus favorites in the East, especially with question marks surrounding the Celtics and Pacers. From a basketball and narrative perspective, it fits.

The big question is whether either team would be willing – or able – to reshuffle their roster and payroll to accommodate LeBron. And if so, whether they could strike a deal the Lakers would accept. He does have a no-trade clause, but that doesn’t mean the Lakers will say yes to just anything. In Cleveland, the emotional factor is obvious – and that can also mean big business. But the Cavs, who won 64 games last year before an injury-marred second-round exit, are brushing up against the second apron and the severe restrictions that come with it.

Going over that spending line would block them from receiving more salary than they send out, and from combining multiple players to match salaries. That makes a trade essentially impossible unless they first get below that line – which would mean shedding even more salary. In other words, to make room for LeBron’s $52 million, they’d need to cut closer to $70 million, and likely involve a third team. The most obvious exits? Painful ones: Darius Garland, Max Strus, and Jarrett Allen. That would leave them with Donovan Mitchell and defensive star Evan Mobley – a duo that could complement LeBron’s playmaking in a spectacular Cleveland homecoming. But it’s a very complicated deal. The Cavs would need to weigh the medium- and long-term costs. Still, they’re already in win-now mode. And in Ohio, a starting five of Lonzo Ball, Mitchell, De’Andre Hunter, LeBron and Mobley is easy to sell.

The Knicks’ path is cleaner – and more tempting

In New York, the math is easier – and there’s the Manhattan factor. LeBron has repeatedly called MSG his favorite place to play, and he’s come close to joining the Knicks more than once. It never happened. Maybe now’s the time, with one of the greatest players in history and a franchise that’s always felt just out of reach.

The Knicks can put together a deal with fewer headaches than the Cavs. One idea: a straight swap with Karl-Anthony Towns and a draft pick or two. But that’s a hard sell for the Lakers, who likely won’t go for a trade that doesn’t vastly improve their defense.

That’s where things get intriguing: several top-tier NBA reporters (Zach Lowe among them) have floated more enticing combinations – the kind that could actually push the decision onto the Knicks. Could this be their best route to a long-awaited title? A storybook twist, winning it all for the first time in over 50 years with LeBron at the center?

They could build a package using OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart, and Mitchell Robinson. Hart, who began his career in L.A., is the least valuable of the four. Bridges is solid, but the ideal package might be Anunoby and Robinson, plus a smaller contract to balance the books – two top-tier role players at wing and center, the exact areas the Lakers need help in alongside Dončić. Both come with expensive long-term deals, but for the Lakers, it might be worth it.

That would give the Knicks a potential starting five of Jalen Brunson, Hart, Bridges, LeBron and Towns. Or they could try to keep Anunoby and trade Bridges – a less appealing option for the Lakers. Either way, these are hypothetical dream scenarios – but they’re far more plausible for the Knicks than for the Cavs. And if LeBron grows impatient with L.A.’s inactivity, he might finally ask out.

One more signal for the conspiracy theorists: the Knicks just crossed an invisible line and are set to sign Jordan Clarkson, a Klutch client. Klutch, of course, is Rich Paul’s agency – and Paul is LeBron’s agent, right-hand man, and business partner.

So, just in case – in case another “impossible” NBA blockbuster is looming, one that would flip the league on its head – here it is. You’ve been warned.

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment.Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.