LeBron James downplays visit to Cavaliers’ practice facility as Lakers trade rumors swirl

LeBron James claims there’s nothing to his appearance in Cleveland this weekend.

The NBA legend was spotted at the Cavaliers’ practice facility in a photo posted online alongside Cleveland summer league invite Denver Jones on Friday.

Despite trade rumors swirling around him, James shut down any notion that him being in his hometown was anything other than his usual offseason activity. 

“And every summer since it was built,” James wrote on X in response to a picture of he and Jones featuring the caption: “LeBron at the Cavs practice facility today.”

“I live here still and train every summer. Got damn yall bored man! Go get a plate of food somewhere and enjoy the 4th of July!”

James faces an uncertain future with the Lakers after opting into a $52.6 million player option for the 2025-26 NBA season.

Shortly after exercising the deal, Rich Paul, James’ agent, released a statement to ESPN’s Shams Charania, hinting at a potential push for a trade if James doesn’t like what he sees from the Lakers’ offseason.

“LeBron wants to compete for a championship,” Paul said. “He knows the Lakers are building for the future. He understands that, but he values a realistic chance of winning it all. We are very appreciative of the partnership that we’ve had for eight years with Jeanie [Buss] and Rob [Pelinka] and consider the Lakers as a critical part of his career.

“We understand the difficulty in winning now while preparing for the future. We do want to evaluate what’s best for LeBron at this stage in his life and career. He wants to make every season he has left count, and the Lakers understand that, are supportive and want what’s best for him.”

Paul later told ESPN’s Dave McMenamin there were “four teams” that had reached out to him about a deal, although he had hot discussed a trade with the Lakers.

“He told me that he has not had any discussion with the Lakers about wanting a trade…,” McMenamin said. “He did say that four teams have contacted him in the last 24 hours wanting to talk trades, but Rich didn’t have any substantive conversations with those teams, either.”

The Cavaliers have been rumored as a potential fit for James should he be dealt from Los Angeles, setting up a potential final chapter with the franchise that drafted him more than two decades ago.

Meanwhile, the Knicks are not considered a potential trade fit, The Post previously reported.