LeBron James opting into his player contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, followed by a statement released by his agent, has fueled trade and buyout rumors for the last week. He wants the best possible chance to compete for a championship, and even though the Lakers now have Luka Doncic, the rest of the roster is discombobulated, at best.

James, who recently had Rich Paul make some telling comments to ESPN, would ideally be a perfect fit with the Mavericks. However, given his situation with the Los Angeles Lakers, it remains uncertain whether James would ever leave Los Angeles.

LeBron James wore a "WELCOME HOME" hat on his Instagram story which sparked rumors about a trade to the Cleveland Cavaliers.