LeBron James is SOON going to Warriors? NBA SHOCKING deal revealed
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The Golden State Warriors continue to be floated as a potential trade destination for Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James.
Veteran forward LeBron James and his camp have sent mixed signals about their future with the Los Angeles Lakers this offseason, opening the possibility of “The King” finishing his career elsewhere.
If James, who owns a no-trade clause, decides to switch jerseys, the Golden State Warriors are widely viewed as the top suitor for his services. As is widely documented, the Warriors tried to acquire James during the 2024 NBA trade deadline, and once again inquired about his availability late in the 2024-25 season.
Sports Illustrated’s Dan Angell believes the time is ripe for the Warriors to make a move, giving James and Stephen Curry a chance to pursue their fifth NBA titles. The writer proposed a trade that would essentially swap James for Jimmy Butler III.
Lakers would receive: Jimmy Butler III, 2028 first-round pick
Warriors would receive: LeBron James, Bronny James
How the Trade Helps Both Teams
“When Bronny James’ minimum deal is added to his father’s, the numbers work,” wrote Angell. “It’s almost a perfect swap for Jimmy Butler, and that keeps the Warriors strong at Butler’s position. Obviously, getting LeBron and keeping him happy is the most important part of this deal for Golden State. Acquiring Bronny as well means LeBron gets the dynamic he craves as well as the chance to play with Stephen Curry.
“LeBron has wanted to play with Curry for years, and this provides him with that chance. The Warriors would have a lot of work ahead, but they would be title contenders.”
As for the Lakers, Angell argued that the team may not want to take on Butler’s contract, specifically due to their reported plans to keep their books clean for the 2026 and 2027 offseasons. However, the unprotected first-round asset could entice them.
“Los Angeles wants to start building around Luka Doncic, and stockpiling draft picks makes that more feasible,” he wrote.
“Butler also keeps the Lakers competitive. He’s a defensive whiz and remains a strong shooter, even at age 36. There’s also the possibility that the Lakers could flip him down the road to a contender in exchange for the players who can help them become a true title contender along with Doncic in 2027 and beyond.”
Warriors Owe it to Stephen Curry?
With Stephen Curry turning 37 this March, the legendary sharpshooter is running out of time in his pursuit of capturing an NBA title. While the Warriors did bring on Butler at last year’s deadline, the move doesn’t move the needle enough for Steve Kerr’s team to compete with West’s powerhouses such as the Thunder, Nuggets and Timberwolves.
ESPN’s Michael Wilbon strongly believes that the Warriors should pull all the stops to make a James-Curry pairing a reality, especially after watching them thrive together at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
“You’re talking about maximizing now. They’re not catching Oklahoma City. They’re not catching Dallas with the personnel they have currently assembled,” he said.
“If anybody watched the Olympics this summer, and you watched LeBron James and Steph Curry play together, how can you not want to see that?” Wilbon asked. “I’m not saying it’s easy when you will tell us how possible it is, if at all. But you tell me, the Lakers stink … Is LeBron going to ride out another season like that? Why would he?”
“You can’t play in San Francisco and live in Los Angeles if you want to? This is tailor-made for those two guys to play together and finish their careers.”
Sai Mohan covers the NBA for Heavy.com. Based in Portugal, Sai is a seasoned sports writer with nearly two decades of publishing experience, including bylines at Yardbarker, FanSided’s Hoops Habit, International Business Times, Hindustan Times and more. More about Sai Mohan