In a dramatic turn of events, it was reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelburne that the Golden State Warriors made an unsuccessful attempt to trade for LeBron James from the Los Angeles Lakers. This potential trade would have brought together James and his longtime rival, Steph Curry, who have faced each other in four consecutive NBA Finals. The Warriors, who have had the upper hand in those matchups with a 3-1 record, hoped that this trade would alleviate the public’s frustration with the struggling Lakers.
Warriors owner Joe Lacob initially reached out to Lakers owner Jeanie Buss to explore the possibility of the trade. However, the Lakers showed no interest in parting ways with James, stating that he needed to consult with his agent Rich Paul. The conversation was prompted by Warriors forward Draymond Green, who is also a client of Klutch Sports and a close friend of James. Green not only advocated for the trade with Lacob but also reached out to James directly, urging him to join the Warriors. It is worth noting that Green played a significant role in recruiting Kevin Durant to the Warriors in the past.
Speculations about a potential trade involving James emerged shortly before the trade deadline, with KTLA anchor David Pingalore being the first to report on it. While Pingalore may not have the same reputation as renowned NBA insiders like Wojnarowski or Shams Charania, he has been accurate in the past, correctly predicting Kawhi Leonard’s move to the Los Angeles Clippers and LeBron’s decisions to return to Cleveland and join the Lakers. However, Paul quickly dismissed any notion of James being traded.
Interestingly, it wasn’t just the Warriors who expressed interest in acquiring James. Philadelphia 76ers president Daryl Morey reached out to Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka to gauge the possibility of a trade. However, Morey’s inquiry was promptly shut down, with Pelinka turning the tables and asking if Joel Embiid was available instead.
Despite being 39 years old, James continues to perform at an elite level. He currently leads the Lakers in scoring, assists, and is second in rebounds behind Anthony Davis. With a player option worth $51.4 million in the 2024-25 season, James remains a valuable asset for any NBA team. Moreover, he has openly discussed the potential of playing alongside his sons, Bronny and Bryce, regardless of where they end up in their basketball careers. Bronny, who recently suffered a cardiac arrest during a preseason practice at USC, had his first college season derailed. Bryce, on the other hand, is still in high school and will not be eligible for the NBA Draft until 2026.
According to the Source deadspin.com