Prior to last Thursday’s trade deadline, the Warriors tried – unsuccessfully – to convince the Lakers to consider sending superstar forward LeBron James to Golden State, according to a report from ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelburne.
The Warriors’ pursuit of James occurred at multiple levels, per ESPN’s reporting. Klutch Sports client Draymond Green contacted agent Rich Paul in an effort to solicit his help getting LeBron on board with a move to Golden State, while Warriors owner Joe Lacob reached out to Lakers owner Jeanie Buss and Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. touched base with Lakers GM Rob Pelinka.
Ultimately, the same answer came back from all involved parties — the Lakers had no interest in trading James, and the four-time MVP had no interest in going anywhere, as Paul stated six days ahead of the deadline.
As Wojnarowski and Shelburne outline, the Warriors’ pursuit stemmed from the fact that James seemed to be frustrated by the Lakers’ up-and-down first half. He hinted at those frustrations in some comments to the media and posted a cryptic tweet consisting only of hourglass emoji.
When Lacob reached out to Buss, she told the Warriors owner that while she had no interest in trading LeBron, that she would check in with him and Paul to gauge their thoughts.
Sources tell ESPN that Buss has “operated with the mindset that she wants her star players content with the franchise,” so if he had been unhappy with his situation in Los Angeles, the team would have been open to changing its stance. That wasn’t the case, however, as Paul told both Lacob and Dunleavy that his top client wanted to remain a Laker.
ESPN’s report doesn’t include any details about the package the Warriors would have offered for James, but since the goal was to pair him with Stephen Curry and Green was involved in the recruiting, we can at least safely assume those two wouldn’t have been on the table. Beyond that, there are many permutations Golden State could have explored — an offer involving Chris Paul and/or Andrew Wiggins, plus prospects and draft picks, seems most likely, given that the Dubs reportedly weren’t interested in moving Klay Thompson.
According to Wojnarowski and Shelburne, the Warriors weren’t the only team to check in on James prior to the trade deadline. Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey also inquired on LeBron’s availability, though that’s a common practice for Morey, who also contacted the Suns to ask about Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and/or Bradley Beal, per ESPN.
As ESPN’s duo explains, the Warriors situation was a little different because it began at the ownership level and included a conversation with Paul, whereas Morey is known around the league for making “bold” long-shot trade inquiries. When Morey asked the Lakers about LeBron, Pelinka responded by inquiring about the availability of reigning MVP Joel Embiid, which ended their brief conversation, sources tell Woj and Shelburne.
James will have a decision to make this summer on a 2024/25 player option worth $51.4MM. While he’s considered likely to either pick up that option or sign a new deal with the Lakers, suitors like the Warriors and Sixers may get a chance to pursue him again at that time.
Pelinka’s response was golden
the nba is a joke
This is a really icky look for Golden State.
It’s just obscene and shows that their owner runs the team like he’s in a fantasy league.
Yes, it’s his money, but this is silly.
Lacob goes through the players on many deals. Most likely he was trying to please the trio. Many of the teams are like a fantasy team look at Mavs, Lakers, Clippers, Celtics, and ect…
Trying to acquire good players and improve the team you own is icky? What?!
You must be a Knicks fan, jaded by decades of the owners working hard to make the team worse.
As a warrior fan I am glad that no trade went through. I just don’t see him as a good fit on the team. Now that the young players are playing more the team has the energy they lacked in the start of the season. This article is more about sport writers making it much bigger than it is.
Kinda hilarious. Hey LeBron want to move down in the standings?
1 game? Not much of a move down.
You should not be glad it didn’t go through if that awful package was what Golden State was offering. Paul, Wiggins, “plus prospects and draft picks” is a terrible deal for the Lakers (depending on the prospects, obviously, but if they were unwilling to include Klay then it is clear they’re over-valuing their assets).
You would have to wonder if GSW was serious about obtaining him or just pleasing Curry and Green to act like they tried. I can’t see the Lakers trading LeBron at all because they built a team around him. If they were serious Kuminga name would have been mentioned because every team that talked to the warriors wanted Kuminga. I could see Laker fans being upset if all they got back was draft picks, Wiggins, and Paul.
Yup it was all just a laker leaked ploy ( according to arc below ) to appease the “ trio “ that they “ talked “ to Lebron but didn’t get him
If mental gymnastics was an Olympic sport you’d be Michael Phelps status Gold arc .
I’m wondering if they cried here as hard as they fried to get KD.
That was just my speculation, but for what it’s worth I was sorta grouping all the Warriors’ rookie scale guys, including Kuminga, under the “prospect” umbrella.
Looking how the young players are the ones that gave the warriors this renewed energy I doubt Podz, TJD or Kuminga would be traded. I think ESPN is pushing this story because what else can they talk about now that super bowl is over.
Not really. Lebron can walk for nothing after this season.
Hilarious
How is this not tampering? I’m not dumb I understand players are probably talking to each other all the time and we never hear about it. This though seemed like a coordinated effort between Green, Dunleavy Jr, and Lacob all working together to try and convince people at every level. That is 100% tampering and the Lakers and other orgs have been punished for much less.
How is it tampering if a team went through the owner and GM? They did not go through Lebron or his agent. So you are saying teams can not ask other teams if a player is available?
Read this part:
“Klutch Sports client Draymond Green contacted agent Rich Paul in an effort to solicit his help getting LeBron on board with a move to Golden State”
Rich Paul is Draymond Green’s agent as well. No problem him talking to his own agent is there?
I think the issue is when the players get together and collaborate on destinations. Sort of like Andre Iguodala a few years ago LOL.
LeBron and Green was at the super bowl together. Everyone knows they are close friends. A few teams inquired about Green at trade deadline and no doubt Lakers probably asked about Green.
The Lakers did not ask about Draymond Green. What in your head makes you think Draymond is a coveted asset? He’s an aging “big man” who’s losing steps everyday, has an extreme anger issue, and is attached to a ridiculous contract.
The love you have for that roster is fine but you have no clue what its worth
Do you understand how to read? i said they probably asked about Green. You don’t think LeBron wanted Green on his team. LeBron said a couple months ago he would like to team up with Curry.
Green is a asset. There was a few teams that asked about him if the warriors wanted to get rid of him. Just glad your team has Poole so you can see how he doesn’t play defense.
“Green is a asset.”
Only sometimes and only on the right team. He doesn’t fit a lot of teams and his attitude is a powder keg. And when he’s bad, he’s really bad.
This is like the 4th time you’ve confused me for a Wizards fan. Light the beam buddy.
And you know what the Warriors roster is worth? If you really knew, you wouldn’t be posting on a website with an anonymous alias.
If I really the knew the roster’s worth my username would be my full government name? Geez. If I knew the value of another roster would I have to give you my SSN too?
If it isn’t tampering, I’m not sure what exactly is considered to be tampering.
Obviously, if Draymond and LeBron want to have a conversation man-to-man, it’s one thing. This was a coordinated effort to influence a player’s decision, though.
That’s what I think too. When you have the player, GM, and owner all coordinating together to do something like this that’s clearly tampering.
So when Lebron said last year he wanted to play with Curry that would be tampering according to you. LeBron also said he wants to play along side Draymond Green in 2022 when Green was becoming a free agent. So I guess Lakers should be charged with tampering if we go by your standards.
Nice reach, but it isn’t the same thing, ARC. Players talking about wanting to play with other players happens all the time. Had Green just called up LeBron to have a conversation, no foul.
“The Warriors’ pursuit of James occurred at multiple levels, per ESPN’s reporting. Klutch Sports client Draymond Green contacted agent Rich Paul in an effort to solicit his help getting LeBron on board with a move to Golden State.” — This is where the problem is. That isn’t a casual conversation, that’s a concerted effort. That is the definition of tampering.
Its tampering if Warriors contacted Rich Paul but since Paul is Green’s agent too its not tampering. Warriors only asked as a favor to Green because if they were serious they would not have offered such a weak offer for LeBron. Warriors went directly to Lakers not through Rich Paul.
It’s not tampering because the intention was to acquire Lebron via trade, not via free agency.
It’s a very fine line between the two though. Who knows if their conversations were actually about a trade or if they were just setting the table for offseason discussions.
Who cares honestly, neither team is any good.
National Inquirer storyline right there. Maybe the Draymond Green bit has some validity to it. I don’t even care to watch Brawny Sensation and Steph on the same ALL-STAR team anymore. At least Colin Cowherd has more post-Super Bowl material to discuss.
It didn’t happen so who cares …..
This is like getting old wrestlers in the ring one last time. Nothing but a show. A horror show ……
i have a feeling the Lakers came out with this report since so many people saying Lebron is leaving to play for which team drafts his son. lakers trying hard to prove how Lebron is loyal to LA. I think everyone knows he is not leaving LA were his kids are playing ball.
LeBron was like “ok, my teammates showed me enough in that Boston game which I wasn’t gonna play in once I knew AD was sitting. No more passive-aggressive comments/emojis regarding my team status for the rest of the season, at least.”
Meanwhile, Lacob laughs at Dray’s suggestion and replies, “we just gave you another phat contract with an extra year we shouldn’t have then you immediately go out and sabotage part of our season with your antics, you don’t return my phone call at the beginning of your longer suspension, and now you come to me telling me we should acquire a nearing 40-year-old player who could potentially complicate our payroll concerns to preposterous levels next season while also pestering us to draft a mostly unproven commodity in Bronny James?? Gtf outta here, Draymond. If we’re ever gonna seek transaction advice from one of our core players, you know who that player is….and Steph already told us he has NO interest in teaming up with Brawny Sensation.”
Pelinka is a dope.
Hahahahahahahaha!
Bold Prediction: Miami drafts Bronny in the late first or 2nd. LeBron picks up player option and is traded to Miami for Herro and whatever makes the trade work. Lakers flip Herro and every asset they can scrounge up to the Hawks for Trae Young.
That actually makes a lot of sense.
Bronny who ? Not close to nba talent. Any two for one deal would set a franchise back decades. Aging LeBron and his maybe g league level son the face of our franchise. No ty
Jimmy and Bam would still be the face of the HEAT. Lebron would be there for just his last year or 2 for the title push. Disagree about Bronny, he’s a major work in progress but has all the tools to be a high level 3 and D role player to starter.
This could be something to monitor this offseason, if Lebron opts out. I wouldn’t rule it past him wanting to play with Steph for one year and let Bronny be mentored by him and Steph next year. It would make all parties happy.
Except Bronny won’t be an NBA star; unless he goes on the juice like Dray….
I’m not saying he’s all-star material, but even with most draft pundits/experts who say he’s not ready…does that really matter when your dad is Lebron James? He has final say, he’ll pull whatever strings he has and resources to ensure his kid gets drafted in round 1. Bronny isn’t ready, but LeBron’s ego won’t let him be his own guy, knowing him he probably would say “you’re standing in the way of my personal dream of playing with my own son” etc. That’s what I expect out of LBJ and his camp next few months.
fact is LeBron will be on Lakers next year and they sign Bronny as a undrafted player. Only way it doesn’t happen if a team wastes a late 2nd round pick on Bronny to get LeBron to sign with them. Only team with that cap space appealing to Lebron is the 76ers.
Not sure Philly would appreciate Brons turnstile defense then look around and blame others. How long until James needs more help, Embiid probably isn’t enough.
Orange juice is good for you. Why do you have a problem with that?
What happens if Bronny ends up getting drafted by Indiana, Utah, Charlotte or *gulp* Boston? What does LeBron do then?
Walk away from $52 million? I highly doubt it. Opt in then ask out. Steph wouldn’t want that coach killing locker room drama queen anyways.
“Wiggins, Paul, Smiley and a 2030 #2 for LeBron.”
“I’m uh…” Click-dial tone…
Light Years !
This trade would be really difficult to make the money work. No way LeBron would ever sign off on a trade that forces his buddy Chris Paul to move to a new city midseason. The trade would have to include 3 of the Warriors 4 prospects for both trade rules and to get the Warriors to sign off.
Trade would be Wiggins, Looney, Kuminga, Moody, Podz, and some form of the Warrior’s 2027 1st for LeBron, Jaxon Hayes, Cam Reddish, and Maxwell Lewis.
(Warriors have to send a few min guys for trade rules and roster compliance)
Warriors New Lineup:
1st team:
PG: Steph
SG: Klay
SF: TJD
PF: LeBron
C: Dray
2nd team:
PG: CP3
SG: GPII
SF: Reddish
PF: Saric
C: Hayes
Warriors have at least 2 roster spots to fill with buyout guys
Lakers would be stupid not to take this trade. Now that we see how good Kuminga is, I have no idea why Warriors make this trade except to win all the headlines. LeBron would love to play with Steph and CP3 but doesn’t want to be branded a *snake* like KD or leave Bryce in LA alone. Warriors would need to trade CP3 and the rest of their draft picks after this season just to fill out their rotation anyways.
Yoooo das crazy!
Hahahaha sure, Lakers could be so lucky. Have a real swing at Mitchell in free agency once Brons contract is over. Donovan isn’t picking up that player option. A real closer next to Ant.
“Klutch Sports client Draymond Green contacted agent Rich Paul in an effort to solicit his help getting LeBron on board with a move to Golden State”
How is this not considered tampering?
It’s only tampering in a “rule violating” sense if it involves non-player team employees and a player on another team.
Of course, in a more colloquial sense, it is what many would view as tampering.
Tampering has to involve transactional discussions between a team and a player under contract to another team. Those discussions can be indirect, through anyone acting on behalf of the team (that includes player or agents, if they are in fact acting as such).
But Silver (and Stern before him) has indicated that, for this purpose, players would not be treated like any other employee of a team. Players are presumed to acting only on their own behalf when speaking to other players, unless there is evidence to the contrary. Whereas other employees of a team, even the lowest ranking member of the FO or coaching staff, would be presumed to be acting on behalf of the team if he had the same discussions. Considering the relative influence of some players with their teams, it’s a joke, and really just provides a blueprint to how to tamper.
Not tampering because we all know Silver loves the Lakers… -_-