During a covert 24-hour period leading up to the trade deadline on Thursday, the Golden State Warriors attempted to sway the Los Angeles Lakers and LeBron James into considering a trade deal to unite him with his longtime rival, Stephen Curry, sources disclosed to ESPN.
The Warriors were keen on proposing a bundled deal to Los Angeles, yet neither the Lakers nor James showed a willingness to delve into such a potential blockbuster. Despite being 39 years old, James continues to perform at an elite level, sparking the Warriors’ imagination regarding his potential to prolong the franchise’s declining dynasty.
Fueled by the endorsement of Draymond Green, Golden State owner Joe Lacob reached out to Lakers owner Jeanie Buss to gauge whether James’ apparent dissatisfaction could serve as an opportunity to broach a trade discussion, sources indicated.
Buss informed Lacob that the Lakers had no intention of trading James but suggested he consult James’ agent, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports, to ascertain James’ mindset, sources revealed. Buss, as an owner, prioritizes the contentment of her star players, which influenced her decision to direct Warriors management to James’ representation, sources added.
This presented an opportunity for the Lakers to gauge James’ commitment. Ultimately, the response came unequivocally on the brink of the trade deadline: Paul conveyed to Lacob and Warriors GM Mike Dunleavy Jr. that James harbored no interest in a trade and expressed his desire to remain with the Lakers, sources disclosed. When Dunleavy reached out to Lakers GM Rob Pelinka during those pre-trade deadline hours, he received a similar response: The Lakers were intent on retaining James, sources confirmed.
Earlier on Wednesday, Green, who is also represented by Paul at Klutch, had reached out to Paul via text, seeking assistance in persuading James to join him in Golden State, sources said. While Green had previously been instrumental in recruiting Kevin Durant to Golden State during free agency, this endeavor proved significantly more futile.
Dunleavy’s call to Pelinka regarding a potential James trade marked the second inquiry from a team executive, sources revealed. Following James’ enigmatic social media post featuring an hourglass a week before the trade deadline, Daryl Morey, president of basketball operations for the Philadelphia 76ers, contacted Pelinka to inquire about a possible trade involving James, only to be promptly informed of James’ unavailability.
Pelinka responded by probing Morey about the availability of Joel Embiid, sources disclosed, effectively concluding the brief conversation. Such assertive trade inquiries are typical of Morey, who also reached out to the Phoenix Suns to inquire about the availability of Durant, only to receive confirmation that Durant was not on the market, sources added.
The Warriors may revisit their pursuit in the offseason, as James holds a $51.4 million player option on his contract for the 2024-25 season. Should James opt to return to the Lakers, he is likely to decline the option and sign a new contract with L.A. that includes an annual raise. Sources informed ESPN that James remains focused on returning to the Lakers in the offseason; however, it is inevitable that numerous suitors, including Golden State and Philadelphia, will endeavor to sway James.
