OAKLAND CA - MARCH 17: The 2016-2017 Golden State Warriors team poses for a team photo on March 17, 2017 at the Warriors Practice Facility in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)
The Golden State Warriors attempted to acquire Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James last Thursday in one of the more surprising “What if?” situations at the NBA trade deadline, as originally reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelburne.
The owners of the Lakers and the Warriors allegedly conducted “secret” talks in the final moments before the trade deadline, but Los Angeles ultimately refused to consider a possible deal package.
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,” Warriors owner Joe Lacob started the trade negotiations.
James, who was around.500 at the time, made some direct remarks regarding the Lakers’ situation late last month.
Buss informed Lacob that trading James was not in the Lakers’ plans. Buss, who was concerned about her top player, added that she would speak with James’s agent, Rich Paul, to seek James’s opinion on the subject.
James wants to stay a Laker, Paul informed Lacob and Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. on the eve of the trade deadline.
Nor was the Warriors ownership’s pursuit of James motivated by a whim in the front office. Draymond Green, a player with the Warriors, reportedly prompted Lacob to find out the four-time NBA champion’s availability. The day before the deadline, on Wednesday, Green—who is also represented by Paul—text-messaged the agent, pleading with him to persuade James to visit Golden State.
Though Lacob and Dunleavy attempted a futile last-minute chase after James, the Warriors took a chance and received a clear response from James’s agent regarding the Lakers star’s current status. In order to revive its flagging dynasty, Golden State might have to seek elsewhere. As a result, the grand plan of matching James with Stephen Curry will have to wait.
The Lakers (29–26) and Warriors (26–25) are presently ranked ninth and tenth in the Western Conference, respectively, and neither team made any major acquisitions before the deadline.
James is anticipated to rejoin the Lakers in the offseason. He inked a two-year, $97.1 million contract extension in 2022 and has a $51.4 million player option for the 2024–2025 campaign.
