✅ LeBron James now stands alone as the only NBA player with a genuine no‑trade clause.
With Bradley Beal having accepted a buyout from the Phoenix Suns, Beal waived his full no‑trade provision and signed a two‑year, $11 million deal with the LA Clippers. That leaves only LeBron in the league holding the power to veto any trade Possibility .
**How a no‑trade clause works:**
A player must have at least 8 years in the NBA and 4 consecutive years with the same team to be eligible. They cannot tack it onto an extension .
**LeBron’s leverage:**
He exercised a player option for the upcoming 2025–26 season (approximately $52.6 million), marking his 8th consecutive year in LA, thus qualifying him for the no‑trade clause .
**Contrast with Beal:**
Beal had also held such a clause while with Washington (and then Phoenix), which blocked trade proposals. But after the buyout, that protection is gone .
**Team flexibility decreased:**
If the Lakers ever explore trading LeBron, they need his full agreement, giving him major say in roster decisions .
Future rumors:
Even amid trade buzz, no real progress has occurred—James hasn’t sought a trade or buyout, and the Lakers aren’t aggressively shopping him .
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🏁 Final Take
Yes, LeBron is the only NBA player with a no‑trade clause as of mid‑July 2025.
His clause grants him significant power over his future (and the Lakers’).
Bradley Beal’s departure underscores the rarity and value of such a clause.
