The Golden State Warriors attempted to execute perhaps the most stunning trade in NBA history, making an unsuccessful bid to acquire Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James before the league's trade deadline last Thursday, February 8 at 3 PM ET.
According to a report by Adrian Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelburne of ESPN, the Bay Area team reached out to Los Angeles and expressed their eagerness to propose a package deal for the NBA's all-time leading scorer.
With the support of Warriors forward Draymond Green, Dubs majority owner Joe Lacob contacted Lakers controlling owner Jeanie Buss to inquire whether the apparent public frustration displayed by James could be an opportunity to engage in trade discussions.
Buss informed Lacob that the Lakers had no intention of trading James. However, she advised him to consult James' agent, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul, for insights into James' state of mind.
Paul communicated to Lacob and Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. that the four-time NBA Finals MVP had no interest in a trade and expressed a strong desire to continue being a member of the Lakers.
When Dunleavy reached out to Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka in the pre-trade deadline hours, he received the same message that the Lakers were committed to keeping James.
In the end, the partnership between the two greatest players did not materialize, and for some good reason.
3 reasons the LeBron James trade does not make sense for the Golden State Warriors
1. The Warriors would give up too many young players with potential
The Warriors would undoubtedly need to part with valuable assets, potentially even needing to overpay to secure the services of the all-time great.
Apart from considering the contracts of players like Chris Paul, Klay Thompson, or Andrew Wiggins to match salaries, the Dubs might find it necessary to include young talents such as Jonathan Kuminga, who has been performing exceptionally well of late, or Moses Moody.
Additionally, they may need to sweeten the deal by including promising rookies like Brandin Podziemski and Trayce Jackson-Davis to align talent-wise.
They would have risked the entire future of the franchise for a 39-year-old player.
2. LeBron James' plans
James has expressed a desire to team up with his son Bronny James, a freshman playing for the USC Trojans and is eligible for the 2024 NBA Draft.
To fulfill this aspiration, LeBron could enter free agency in 2024, as the 2024-25 season in his contract is a player option.
3. The Warriors are deep into the luxury tax
James, slated to earn $47.6 million this season and $51.4 million in the following season if he opts in for his player option, could significantly inflate the team's already substantial luxury tax bill.
The Dubs are projected to pay an estimated $172.8 million in luxury tax this season, the largest in the league, per Spotrac.
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