Inside The Warriors

ESPN NBA Insider Gets Honest About Potential LeBron James to Warriors Trade

Could the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors make a LeBron James trade?

Joey Linn

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) and Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) talk after the game at Chase Center.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) and Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) talk after the game at Chase Center. / Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
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One of the biggest stories in the NBA last season was when ESPN reported that the Golden State Warriors contacted the Los Angeles Lakers about a possible LeBron James trade. Per that report, James and his agency shut the idea down, and nothing came of the inquiry from Golden State.

During a recent segment of NBA countdown, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst got honest about the possibility of a James to Golden State move this season. 

"I'm very interested in all of this,” Windhorst said, responding to his colleague Michael Wilbon who proposed the idea of James joining Steph Curry and the Warriors. “I’d be lying if I said that there hasn’t been some conversations in the league with LeBron at some point this year, like revisit that. Because you remember at the trade deadline last year, the Warriors called."

Because of the NBA's new CBA, trades are very difficult for both the Warriors and Lakers, which Windhorst detailed.

“Any trade the Warriors make is gonna be complicated,” Windhorst added. “… Any trade they make, they aren’t allowed to take on more money. Guess what? The Lakers aren’t allowed to take on any money because they’re in the first apron.”

Windhorst continued by saying, “It’s possible if LeBron wanted it. Also, LeBron has a no-trade clause… Twice in the last 10 months, LeBron has had the opportunity to leave the Lakers. Once at the trade deadline last year when the Warriors called… Last summer he became a free agent, he re-signed with the Lakers… LeBron has repeatedly made it clear he wants to be a Laker.”

Stephen Curry and LeBron Jame
United States guard Stephen Curry (4) and forward LeBron James (6) celebrate after defeating France in the men's basketball gold medal game during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Accor Arena. / Kyle Terada-Imagn Images

While fans have been infatuated with this idea, especially after James and Curry won gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics as USA Basketball teammates, it seems unlikely the two ever play together in the NBA.

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Joey Linn
JOEY LINN

Title: Credentialed writer covering the NBA for Sports Illustrated's FanNation Email: joeylinn52@gmail.com Education: Communication Studies degree from Biola University Location: Los Angeles, California Expertise: NBA analysis and reporting Experience: Joey Linn is a credentialed writer covering the NBA for Sports Illustrated's FanNation. Covering the LA Clippers independently in 2018, then for Fansided and 213Hoops from 2019-2021, Joey joined Sports Illustrated's FanNation to cover the Clippers after the 2020-21 season. Graduating from Biola University in 2022 with a Communication Studies degree, Joey served as Biola's play-by-play announcer for their basketball, baseball, softball, and soccer teams during his time in school. Joey's work on Biola's broadcasts, combined with his excellence in the classroom, earned him the Outstanding Communication Studies Student of the year award in 2022. Joey covers the NBA full-time across multiple platforms, primarily serving as a credentialed Clippers beat writer.

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