LeBron James Tells Lakers He’s Leaving: Warriors, Cavaliers, Heat All in Pursuit for 24th Season

LeBron James has told the Los Angeles Lakers he intends to play for a different team in 2026-27, ending an eight-season run in Los Angeles that included the franchise’s 2020 championship. Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul confirmed the decision, setting off a wide-open sweepstakes for the NBA’s all-time leading scorer as he enters his 24th season.

James, who turns 41 in December, is coming off a season in which he averaged 20.9 points, 7.2 assists and 6.1 rebounds across 60 games for Los Angeles. He has not committed to whether this will be his final NBA season, but sources say he is intent on chasing a fifth championship rather than closing out his career on a rebuilding roster. Rather than narrowing his list early, James instructed Paul to speak with every interested team before making a decision, a process that opened officially when free agency negotiations began Tuesday at 6 p.m. ET.

Warriors Emerge as Early Frontrunner

The Golden State Warriors have quickly become the name most connected to James, driven in part by his long-standing relationship with Stephen Curry and Draymond Green. Green opened a path for the pursuit by declining his $27.6 million player option, and Golden State has also explored a trade for Washington Wizards forward Anthony Davis that would reunite him with James for the first time since their Lakers partnership. League sources have cautioned that no formal indication has been given that Golden State is a lock, and that some recruitment will still be required to close the deal. Bettors weighing futures markets on his eventual destination can find live NBA lines through a DraftKings promo code or a FanDuel promo code.

Cleveland and Miami, the two other franchises James has played for during his career, are also expected to make their case. A homecoming to Cleveland has generated steady buzz given the emotional resonance of the 2016 championship he delivered there, while Miami offers a return to the organization that gave him his first two titles. Reports have also floated San Antonio as a longer-shot destination, where James could theoretically pair with global star Victor Wembanyama, along with continued mentions of the Knicks and Timberwolves as teams monitoring the situation.

Lakers Reshape Roster Without Him

Los Angeles wasted little time pivoting. The team re-signed Austin Reaves and is working through other roster business as James’ free agency plays out, with Deandre Ayton reportedly on the move from the Lakers to the Washington Wizards as part of the broader shakeup around the league’s free-agency and trade market. The Lakers will have significant cap flexibility with James’ $52.6 million salary coming off the books, giving Rob Pelinka’s front office real spending power as it looks to retool around Luka Doncic.

James cannot officially sign with a new team until the league’s offseason moratorium lifts on July 6, meaning any agreement reached in the coming days would need to wait for that formal window before becoming official. That timeline puts added pressure on suitors to make their pitches now, even as James takes his time working through the list Paul has compiled. Sportsbooks have already begun posting odds on his next team, available through offers like a BetMGM promo code or a Caesars promo code.

What’s Next

The decision marks the fourth time James has entered free agency as an unrestricted player, following his moves in 2010, 2014 and 2018 that each reshaped the league’s competitive balance. Wherever he lands, the move is expected to have ripple effects across the Western and Eastern Conference title races alike, particularly if Golden State completes an Anthony Davis trade to pair him with James and Curry. For now, the basketball world waits on Rich Paul’s next update as teams continue making their case for basketball’s most decorated active player.