News broke on Sunday that LeBron James is opting into the final year of his contract with the Los Angeles Lakers (H/T Shams Charania of ESPN) at $52.6 million. While that was the expected outcome, several NBA executives and agents found it odd that he didn't appear to have his usual negotiating leverage.

This NBA analyst proposes a trade that will give LeBron James a storybook ending to his career with the Cavaliers.

James’s agent, Rich Paul, released a statement along with the announcement from ESPN’s Shams Charania that made it clear his client “wants to compete for a championship” and that he understands that the Lakers are “preparing for the future.”