ESPN reported that the Golden State Warriors made a bold but unsuccessful attempt to convince the Los LeBron James to consider a trade prior to the deadline. The Warriors, fueled by the idea of pairing James with longtime rival Stephen Curry, reached out to Lakers owner Jeanie Buss, who directed them to James’ agent, Rich Paul. Draymond Green, represented by Paul as well, had also tried to sway James to Golden State, but to no avail.
What remains interesting is the Warriors may revisit their pursuit of James in the offseason, given his player option. Both the Lakers and the Warriors were relatively quiet at the trade deadline, with the Lakers eyeing offseason roster upgrades with future draft picks, while the Warriors made only minor moves amidst uncertainty regarding Klay Thompson’s impending free agency. There is also the past statements that LeBron is interested in playing with his son Bronny James and he could enter the draft as soon as this summer.
LeBron’s Side
I think it’s understandable why an aging Warriors would try for one last gasp. Presumably, at LeBron’s age and with his ability to force his way anywhere, the asking price for a player as good as he is would likely be lower than it would for a player a decade or so younger. While LeBron has been the best 39-year-old ever, he’s still 39 years old and will demand a large multi-year contract the way he is playing. Players, even before the age he is already at, have fallen off the cliff unexpectedly. It will happen at some point, and likely with Steph Curry and Draymond Green soon as well, similar to what Klay Thompson is currently coming to terms with. The Warriors would likely be betting on a two-year window if they are fortunate. One last gasp for the dynasty.
From LeBron’s side, however, it seems far less exciting. It would be a short flight from his home in Los Angeles, which makes more sense for where he is at at this stage than Cleveland or east, but he would be coming in almost as a mercenary. Even if it worked, and there are no assurances it would, he would get less credit entering an ecosystem with players and a coach that have won so many titles. It would be similar to how Kevin Durant was viewed, and if it went poorly, he would shoulder most of the blame.
Where the Warriors do make sense is if he needed an off-ramp from the Lakers, or if they became completely irrelevant and were near the bottom of the West. In reality, they are only one Anthony Davis injury away from that, but so are most teams, including the Warriors. I believe the main counterargument would be that the Warriors could survive Curry missing time better, and they have young players on the ascent like Jonathan Kuminga and Brandin Podziemski Jonathan Kuminga and Brandin Podziemski who the Warriors would likely try to keep out of a deal. We are less high on Kuminga than most, but he would fit well in a frontcourt with Draymond and LeBron
Who Gets Traded
There were many possible permutations of the trade at the deadline. The numbers could have been built around Chris Paul, Andrew Wiggins, or Klay Thompson. If LeBron were agreeing to be traded, there is no doubt he would want the most win-now-ready talent. The Lakers would have likely had no interest in Andrew Wiggins with multiple years in his current form or state. Assets would have had to be included to make that happen. The Lakers probably would play ball if LeBron wanted this because they have a reputation for doing right and accommodating their aging superstars. It would be smart to take a haircut and not play hardball since they want superstar players to sign with them. Let’s just assume they would have gotten a favorable package built around expiring contracts like Klay Thompson or Chris Paul and whatever draft capital was appropriate for the trouble. If they agreed to take on Wiggins, more draft assets or Kuminga/ Podziemski likely would have to be included.
Klay Thompson with any of the players in the $2 million range would work in the trade machine and save the Warriors some in luxury taxes. I still think the Warriors don’t want to trade Klay Thompson. They likely want to bring him back on a far less expensive contract as a role player to finish his career. Is that something Klay is willing to do is the question that needs to be answered. Let’s assume the package would be built around Chris Paul’s contract, which isn’t fully guaranteed. The Dubs will have until June 28 to decide whether to trade CP3 or not guarantee his contract. LeBron could have and still could be traded for as little as CP3, Kevon Looney, and Gary Payton. Doing it next season would make all expiring money as well.
Let’s assume that was the deal and whatever draft capital it took to make it happen, mainly as a goodwill gesture to LeBron for coming to Los Angeles and helping them win a title. The Lakers would have the ammo to try to trade for someone else in the offseason as well when they get three picks of their own.
The Team
Fundamentally, I would really like a team with LeBron, Steph, and Draymond. Win one for the old guys. It’s probably not a team that would actually win, but they could contend and have dark horse potential. Draymond is still one of the best defensive players, so this should be a seamless fit to play him at center and LeBron at PF on defense, where he needs to be at this point in his career. Kuminga could guard the big wings and play more PF on offense while LeBron was on the perimeter on offense. This would be an incredibly interesting team with passers like Draymond, LeBron, and Curry. I think it would work very well and give all one more chance at a championship.
If Wiggins ever recaptured even 80% of his form from 2 seasons ago, this would be a much scarier team, but the framework is still there to have success. Also, as the older players are slipping, you could hope that the younger guys would come in to replace what you are losing. On the Lakers, that possibility doesn’t really exist where most of those players are also likely on the decline or fully formed.
Conclusion
It’s a fun team that would drive TV ratings and cable and podcast news. It feels like the Rockets when they tried to pair Olajuwon, Barkley, and Pippen together. It was too late at that point, but in concept it was fun and the right move. Perhaps the magic would be there, and you could look up one more time and see them in a finals. That outcome wouldn’t be impossible either, but the trade would probably have needed to happen this season realistically to get a playoffs together or capitalize on them being a year less in decline.
