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Last season saw serious discussions about a potential blockbuster move that would have sent LeBron James to the Golden State Warriors, as per insights from respected NBA analyst Marc Stein.
Stein revealed that talks had progressed to direct dialogues between Warriors majority owner Joe Lacob and Los Angeles Lakers’ Jeanie Buss. Warriors standout Draymond Green, a close associate of James, was reportedly advocating for the NBA veteran to consider relocating north.
However, these discussions were abruptly curtailed. Rich Paul, LeBron James’ long-time representative, was staunchly against the move. According to Stein, Paul was concerned about the negative repercussions of James changing teams again, which would have been his fourth such move.
“Sources indicate that Paul was adamant with both teams to drop the idea… primarily to shield James from the adverse public reaction that might follow,” Stein reported in an article that appeared Sunday (cited via Bleacher Report).
ESPN had earlier noted that prior to the NBA’s midseason trade deadline in February, the Warriors had initiated an attempt to secure James. However, the proposal received little interest from the Lakers. When Lacob reached out to Buss, she directed him to Paul, who emphatically rejected the idea, affirming that his star client was not interested in a switch.
Draymond Green, who shares Paul as an agent with James, texted Paul to probe James’ interest in joining the Warriors but received a prompt dismissal. A similar trade proposition from the Philadelphia 76ers met the same fate, as reported by ESPN.
Meanwhile, LeBron James teamed up with Warriors icon Steph Curry this summer for Team USA, leading to another Olympic gold medal in men’s basketball at the Paris 2024 Games. James, who served as the U.S. flag bearer during the opening ceremony, played a pivotal role throughout the tournament and nearly led in scoring, only slightly trailing behind Curry’s remarkable performance.
With his NBA future seemingly secure after the Lakers drafted his son, LeBron “Bronny” James Jr., LeBron is poised to make history by playing alongside his son, marking a first in NBA history for a father-son duo on the same team.
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