The NBA trade deadline passed last week, and it was disappointing for those who were hoping for significant moves. In an alternate scenario that may not have been too far-fetched, it could have been an unprecedented deadline day thanks to LeBron James and Steph Curry.
As reported by ESPN, the Warriors and Lakers explored the possibility of trading James to Golden State to join forces with Curry. This was not just a casual conversation; discussions between team owners and agents took place.
Golden State made an unsuccessful attempt to convince the Lakers and James to consider a move to the Warriors. Interestingly, the report mentioned that Golden State had the support of Draymond Green when it came to inquiring about a potential James trade. Despite Green’s on-court disciplinary issues, his opinion still holds weight within the organization.
According to sources cited by Adrian Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelburne, “Armed with the encouragement of Warriors star Draymond Green, Golden State owner Joe Lacob reached out to Lakers owner Jeanie Buss to inquire whether James’ apparent public frustration could be interpreted as an opening to discuss a trade. Buss told Lacob the Lakers had no desire to trade James, but that he would need to seek the answer on James’ state of mind from his agent, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul. In the end, the answer was returned resoundingly on the eve of the trade deadline: Paul told Lacob and Warriors GM Mike Dunleavy Jr. that James had no interest in a trade and wanted to remain a Laker.”
The key takeaway here is that the fact that owners engaged in discussions about James’ potential interest in a move lends credibility to the rumors of LeBron’s possible dissatisfaction with Los Angeles and the front office.
Speculation about James not being entirely satisfied with his situation with the Lakers has been an on-and-off topic since he joined the team in 2018. While it may not have resulted in anything concrete, credit should be given to Lacob for reaching out and assessing the current state of affairs concerning James in LA.
Talks about the potential deal sending James to the Warriors will likely fade away soon, but it is highly probable that they will resurface during the NBA offseason, especially considering LeBron’s $51.4 million player option for next season.
Mark covers a wide range of sports and closely follows the world of golf. He holds a journalism and online media degree from the University of Tennessee, although the verdict on his mastery lies with the readers. When he is not working, he can often be found on the golf course.
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