LeBron James, who spent eight seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, has informed Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul to communicate to the franchise that he will play elsewhere in 2026-27, sources told ESPN. The announcement came hours after the free agency negotiating period opened at 6 p.m. ET on June 30.
The news ends one of the most scrutinized partnership chapters in Lakers history since James arrived from Cleveland in 2018. Los Angeles won the 2020 NBA title with James, but failed to return to the Finals in his six subsequent seasons.
Warriors early favorites as talks begin
Golden State moved aggressively within minutes of the negotiating window opening. The Warriors are listed as -500 favorites at DraftKings to land James – meaning a $500 bet wins just $100 – with the Cleveland Cavaliers at +300, the Miami Heat at +1,000, and the San Antonio Spurs at +2,000.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Tuesday that the Warriors will pursue both James and Anthony Davis, who remains under contract with Los Angeles. A trade for Davis to Golden State was later described as “unlikely” by multiple sources.
Golden State’s pursuit is made possible in part by Draymond Green’s decision to decline his player option, announced Monday. Green is expected to re-sign with the Warriors on a new deal, clearing cap flexibility and signaling to James that the organization is building around a potential new core.
James cannot officially sign with any team until 12:01 p.m. ET on July 6. That leaves nearly a week for other suitors to make their cases.
What eight years in LA produced
James leaves Los Angeles as the all-time NBA scoring leader, a status he secured in February 2023. He averaged 25.3 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 8.0 assists per game across his time with the Lakers. The 2020 championship – won in the NBA bubble in Orlando – remains the franchise’s most recent title.
His departure raises questions around his son Bronny James, a guard who played his second NBA season with the Lakers in 2025-26. Neither side has publicly addressed what Bronny’s status will be following his father’s exit.
LeBron James will enter his 24th NBA season in 2026-27. At 41, he becomes the first player in league history to draw this level of franchise interest at that age – a fact that is either the greatest testament to his longevity or a reflection of how badly top organizations want to win. Likely both.
Sources: NBA.com, CBS Sports, Yahoo Sports.
[Update – July 2, 2026, 09:00 UTC] Per Shams Charania (ESPN), LeBron James’ top landing spots are the Golden State Warriors, Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat. A complicating factor: sources close to James reportedly want him paired with Anthony Davis – but the Washington Wizards have signaled they will not trade Davis, per ESPN. The picture remains fluid as negotiations continue.
[Update – July 3, 2026] A Warriors insider now puts the odds of landing LeBron at 50/50, per Pro Football Network. On the Anthony Davis front, Golden State has stepped back: the Washington Wizards are not listening to trade offers for Davis, per ESPN, and the Warriors have shifted focus entirely to LeBron’s free agency decision. They have signed Kristaps Porzingis in the meantime as the roster takes shape around that open question.
