Despite LeBron James picking up his $52.6 million player option to remain with the Los Angeles Lakers for next season, there's never been more speculation surrounding his status with the team. That's in part because no new contract was negotiated this summer to keep him there past this upcoming season,

The Dallas Mavericks have not tried to trade for Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James, according to NBA insider Marc Stein of The Stein Line.  LeBron will make $52.6 million next season.

For the Lakers and LeBron James, that fate is on the horizon and perhaps isn’t so distant anymore. This time last year, LeBron’s future was seen as being on the Lakers or retiring. His career was going to come to an end in LA.