NEWSLETTER
The Warriors might not have made a roster change at the trade deadline, but it wasn’t without a lack of effort.
According to a report from ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski this morning, the Golden State tried presenting a package to the Lakers to bring LeBron James up the California coast and unite him with Steph Curry. The Lakers and LeBron, however, had zero interest in exploring that possibility.
LeBron James Never Wanted To Leave The Lakers
I know it got nowhere according to the report from Woj – as well as Brian Windhorst this morning on Get Up – but just the idea being brought up made it impossible to not imagine that tandem. If people were upset when Kevin Durant left for the Warriors in free agency, I think this move might have shut down the internet.
LeBron wasn’t shy about expressing some frustration publically that the Lakers were underachieving this season. Golden State, who’s struggled as well but is playing better as of late, saw this as an opportunity to shoot for the moon. Woj reported that with the encouragement of Draymond Green, Warriors owner Joe Lacob reached out to Lakers owner Jeanie Buss to investigate whether James’ signs of frustration meant a door was open for a potential trade. But, again, it seems that the potential door was shut and locked almost immediately.
Draymond apparently even tried to get his agent, Rich Paul, to reach out to LeBron and do some convincing about potentially making a move to the Warriors. Paul, who is the CEO of Klutch Sports and also represents LeBron, made it known quickly that James had zero interest in leaving.
The Warriors reportedly were not the only ones to reach out about LeBron’s availability, however. According to both Woj and Windhorst, the 76ers also asked about the 39-year-old but were shot down.
So as fun as it is to imagine LeBron and Steph on the same team and the internet outrage that would have followed the move, it appears we were never really close to that happening. It also feels like that despite some speculation about a potential change in the offseason (James can opt out of his contract this offseason if he wants), LeBron is pretty committed to the Lakers and finishing his career in LA.
