LeBron James Rumors: Rival NBA Execs 'Increasingly Convinced' Lakers Star Wants Out

Could LeBron James be seeking an exit from the Los Angeles Lakers this summer?

Sam Amick, Anthony Slater, Jovan Buha of The Athletic reported on Wednesday that teams around the NBA believe James' time in Los Angeles might be coming to a close:

"Not only are rival executives increasingly convinced that James might want out, but they're also focused on the Bronny James factor. which continues to loom large. James has been talking for years now about the dream scenario of playing with his oldest son who, if he chooses, can leave USC this summer and enter the draft. The idea, then, is that any team that wants to up its chances of landing James should make it a priority to go after Bronny first."

Per that report, however, the Lakers "maintain that they have no intention of trading James, according to multiple team sources," and are also "willing to explore the notion of adding Bronny James next season."

No surprises there. If James decides to opt out of his $51.4 million player option for next season and signs elsewhere in free agency, the Lakers will need to essentially undergo another retooling around Anthony Davis. And that's assuming Davis doesn't ask out with James gone.

As for the Bronny James factor, that's hardly a new rumor. NBA reporter Marc Stein wrote Monday that he knows of "at least two teams on the NBA map that believe LeBron James would consider signing with them at far less than $51.4 million if Bronny James is on the roster. There might be more."

And James himself has indicated that he wants to someday play on the same court as Bronny, either with him or against him.

"I need to be on the floor with my boy, he told ESPN's Dave McMenamin in Jan. 2023. "I got to be on the floor with Bronny,"

"Either in the same uniform or a matchup against him," he continued. "I don't mean like [guarding one another all game]—because he's a point guard and I'm a—at this point now I'm playing center or whatever the team needs from me. But I would love to do the whole Ken Griffey Sr. and Jr. thing. That would be ideal for sure."

LeBron, 39, has spent the past six seasons with the Lakers, winning a Bubble title and this year's first-ever In-Season Tournament with the team. His Lakers have also missed the playoffs twice and this year are just 29-26 and currently ninth in the Western Conference Standings.

At his age, it's possible James doesn't imagine he has many seasons left in the tank, and if he doesn't believe the Lakers give him the best chance at another title a change in scenery makes sense. Unless the Lakers turn their season around and make a deep playoff push, it may be a very interesting summer in the City of Angels.