The Ringer’s Bill Simmons believes the Golden State Warriors can put together an intriguing package for LeBron James. On The Bill Simmons Podcast, the 54-year-old suggested a trade that would see Jonathan Kuminga and Klay Thompson end up on the Los Angeles Lakers.
“There’s a trade I really love but it won’t happen,” Simmons said. “The most fun trade for basketball is if he gets traded to the Warriors, and it’s Kuminga and Klay and maybe some pick swap down the road. It’s just, we’ll take LeBron for three months and then he can declare for free agency.”
Simmons doesn’t believe this trade would ever go down but thinks there is some benefit there for all parties.
“Klay gets to go back to Lakers, his dad played there and the Lakers get Kuminga out of it,” Simmons continued. “And then they get to put together the old guys’ superteam in Golden State… It’s LeBron and Chris Paul and (Stephen) Curry.”
(starts at 0:58 mark):
“[LeBron] just doesn’t seem happy.”
It’s been a disappointing season so far for the Lakers. Where can LeBron and L.A. go from here?@BillSimmons discusses the limited options and the one trade he keeps coming back to: pic.twitter.com/4p0uyL2aYi
— The Ringer (@ringer) February 5, 2024
LeBron on the Warriors would be quite an interesting experience. Golden State is currently 22-25 on the season, but they would instantly become title contenders with him. Any team with James and Curry on it would have to be taken extremely seriously, even if such a trade is made this late into the season.
As for the Lakers, this would be a decent move if LeBron is planning to opt out of his contract and leave in free agency. They get a very good young talent in Kuminga, who has averaged 24.9 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.3 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game in his last 10 outings for the Warriors.
Kuminga has finally been given a bigger role in Golden State off late, and he has shown what he is actually capable of. While the 21-year-old’s stock is trending upward, Thompson’s is on a downward spiral.
The five-time All-Star is averaging just 17.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.6 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game this season. Klay has looked like a shell of his former self, but his contract would be off the books after this campaign, so the Lakers won’t be tied to him. This really for me, becomes a Kuminga-LeBron trade
It’s hard to see the Warriors attempting a move like this, however, and they especially won’t give up Kuminga if LeBron plans to leave them in free agency. They potentially have a piece now to build around for the post-Curry era, and three months of LeBron isn’t worth giving him up.
While the Warriors might not take the plunge, there are other teams that might. We came up with three realistic trade scenarios that the Lakers would immediately accept for LeBron.
LeBron James Has Been Trying To Put Pressure On The Lakers
Simmons felt from watching LeBron play against the New York Knicks on Saturday that the 39-year-old wasn’t happy. Well, after the game James raised eyebrows by wearing a Knicks towel to his postgame interview. NBA insider Brian Windhorst thinks LeBron used that Knicks towel to put pressure on the Lakers.
The Lakers are currently 27-25 on the season and it appears James, who is averaging 24.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, 7.6 assists, 1.3 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game, wants them to make some moves to turn things around. The Lakers, however, are only going to make moves that make sense to them and won’t be pressured into making one.
Thank you for being a valued reader of Fadeaway World. If you liked this article, please consider following us on Google News. We really appreciate your support.
