LeBron James‘ future with the Los Angeles Lakers will be tested during this season, as the Golden State Warriors continue to monitor James’ potential availability for a trade to make LeBron and Stephen Curry teammates. The Warriors tried acquiring James last winter but LeBron declined their advances before re-signing with the Lakers in the summer.
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst has revealed that there have been conversations around the NBA about LeBron revisiting the Warriors’ interest in a potential midseason move.
“I’m very interested in all this. I would be lying if I said that there haven’t been some conversations in the league (about), ‘Would LeBron at some point this year revisit that?’ Because you remember last year at the trade deadline, the Warriors called.”
Windhorst instantly spilled water on the hopes of Warriors or LeBron fans by explaining how difficult it is for James to practically be moved from the Lakers to the Warriors.
“But I just wanna say a couple of things. First off, any trade that the Warriors make is gonna be complicated. They have only $500,000 that they’re allowed to spend more in this season. It’s first, second apron stuff — I know it’s boring. Any trade that they make, they really can’t take on more money. Guess what? The Lakers are not allowed to take on any money ’cause they’re in the first apron.
“So, it’s possible if LeBron wanted it. Also, LeBron has a no-trade clause. Also, the Lakers don’t own their first-round pick. It goes unprotected to the Atlanta Hawks.”
“Twice in the last 10 months, LeBron has had an opportunity to leave the Lakers. One, at the trade deadline last year when the Warriors called. The Lakers went to LeBron and said, ‘Do you seriously wanna get traded?’ He said, ‘No.’ Last summer he became a free agent. He re-signed with the Lakers.
“LeBron has repeatedly made it clear he wants to be a Laker. And if that’s the case, he’s got a no-trade clause. There’s nothin’ really to talk about.”
It doesn’t seem like James wants his career to ever say he was traded by a franchise, as all three team switches in his career have happened on his terms. He has a no-trade clause in his contract with the Lakers to protect him from being moved without his input, but if the Warriors come calling again, James might find it harder to turn it down.
The Warriors are a competitive franchise this season, with a 13-9 record right now. James and Stephen Curry would be a fearsome duo, albeit old. The winning window would be tiny for James and Curry together, but it would be one of the best stories in basketball if the two career rivals had one season as teammates.
But with James’ business investments in LA and the fact that his son is his teammate, it seems unlikely James would greenlight a move to the Warriors.
Even if he agreed, finding the right combination of salaries, picks, and players might cause both franchises to back out as the Lakers will want a premium for LeBron which the Warriors shouldn’t pay for someone who is declining and will likely retire within the next two seasons.
It’s a fun idea, but one that likely will never materialize.
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