Warriors Tried to Acquire LeBron James at NBA Trade Deadline, per Report

A potential blockbuster trade between the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers was simmering beneath the surface at the deadline.

In one of the most shocking “What if?” scenarios at the NBA trade deadline, the Golden State Warriors tried to acquire Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James last Thursday, as first reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelburne.

The Warriors’ and Lakers’ owners reportedly had “clandestine” conversations at the 11th hour prior to the trade deadline, but in the end, Los Angeles wasn’t willing to explore a potential deal package.

Warriors owner Joe Lacob initiated the trade talks by reaching out to Lakers owner Jeanie Buss “to inquire whether James’s apparent public frustration could be interpreted as an opening to discuss a trade.”

Late last month, James made some blunt comments about the state of the Lakers, who were hovering around .500 at the time.

Buss told Lacob the Lakers had no intention of trading James. However, Buss, who had her star player’s interests at heart, also said she would consult with James’s agent, Rich Paul, to get James’s thoughts on the matter.

On the eve of the trade deadline, Paul told Lacob and Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. that James wanted to remain a Laker.

The Warriors ownership’s pursuit of James wasn’t spurred by a front office whim, either. Lacob apparently was encouraged by Warriors star Draymond Green to inquire about the four-time NBA champion’s availability. Green, who is also represented by Paul, sent the agent a text on Wednesday, the day before the deadline, asking him to convince James to come to Golden State.

Golden State reportedly pursued a seismic trade in hopes of pairing NBA greats Stephen Curry and LeBron James together with the Warriors :: Darren Yamashita/USA TODAY

Despite Lacob’s and Dunleavy’s failed last-second pursuit of James, the Warriors tested the waters and got a straightforward answer from James’s representation on where the Lakers star stands. Golden State may have to look elsewhere to find solutions to revitalize its fading dynasty, and the lofty dream of pairing James and Stephen Curry will have to wait.

Neither the Lakers (29—26) nor Warriors (26—25) made any blockbuster moves at the deadline, and they currently sit in ninth and 10th place, respectively, in the Western Conference.

James, who signed a two-year, $97.1 million contract extension in 2022 and has a $51.4 million player option for the 2024-25 season, is expected to return to the Lakers in the offseason.