In a chat with Draymond Green on the ‘7PM in Brooklyn’ podcast, NBA legend Carmelo Anthony told him to his face why LeBron James would not work on the modern-day Golden State Warriors. To the shock of Draymond, and other viewers, Anthony denied that they would be able to win the championship together had James been traded to the team back in early February.
“You gotta have big cahones to pick that phone up and say that… but I don’t think they win a championship. I don’t think so because guess what? If LeBron is going to Golden State, you gotta build another team,” said Anthony. “He outta there, Klay is gone, he can’t stay! It’s gonna be them two and Kuminga…”
There was buzz about LeBron James potentially joining forces with Stephen Curry this season. Before the deadline, the Warriors and Lakers even briefly discussed the potential for trading LeBron and it set the NBA world on fire with reactions. Sadly, a deal was never materialized and both sides kept their teams intact. But now Anthony says this was a good thing for Golden State.
While the Warriors would have ridiculous top-end talent with James and Curry, it would have come at a pretty steep price… one that Carmelo says would be too much for them to overcome. With LeBron’s earnings at over $47 million this season, the Lakers would have had to trade a player like Klay Thompson, who is a franchise legend and fan favorite in the community, just to make the salaries match. At the very least, it would have cost them Andrew Wiggins and other young assets, who were instrumental in their title run years ago.
In the end, LeBron and the Lakers ultimately pulled out of the deal and they avoided forming a union that could have changed the course of NBA history. According to Carmelo Anthony, it was a moment that actually saved the Warriors and helped them extend their window by preserving their depth in the form of young players like Brandin Podziemski, Jonathan Kuminga, and Trayce Jackson-Davis.
Golden State Warriors Plan To Continue Their Pursuit Of LeBron James
For years, the mere thought of trading LeBron James was an egregious offense, but the idea has become much more acceptable in recent weeks. As the Lakers have sunk lower and lower in the standings, the urgency for LeBron James to find a winning situation continues to grow.
And while Rich Paul may have shut down a Warriors trade this time, who is to say the results won’t be any different this summer? With Klay headed for free agency, the Warriors could use some of his contract money to make a generous offer for King James. Alternatively, they could draft his son, Bronny, in the upcoming draft to lure LeBron to town.
Regardless of the method, there is no mistaking the Warriors’ interest in LeBron, and reports have already revealed that they intend to continue their pitch this summer. Even at 39 years old, James is a powerful force on the basketball court and he’s the one guy who can ensure that Stephen Curry’s final years are spent on a team in a position to compete for a title.
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