Just to make things clear, there is no trade request from James. The Los Angeles Lakers superstar has not formally asked out from the organization. For starters, the Warriors have been highlighted as one of the teams known to have done a double take about Rich Paul's comments following James accepting his player option for 2025-26.

As detailed in a recent feature story by ESPN's Ramona Shelburne and Brian Windhorst, the news sent the Association into a "tizzy," with executives around the league doing their best to "decode" the message released by James's agent, Rich Paul.

The Mavericks have been thrown out as a destination because of James’ extensive relationships with several key figures, including Kyrie Irving, Anthony