Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors started the 2024-25 NBA season as one of the best teams in the league. Through 15 games, they went 12-3 and were sitting near the top of the Western Conference standings.
However, over the past few weeks, the Warriors have come back down to Earth, losing six of their last eight, including five straight, and falling to 14-9.
Forward Jonathan Kuminga has started to break out during the Warriors' slump, recording a career-high 33 points in Thursday's win over the Houston Rockets. He even took Draymond Green's starting spot, sending the four-time champion to the bench.
But one thing has become clear over the last eight contests, Golden State is missing another star to pair with Curry, especially after the departure of Klay Thompson, who signed with the Dallas Mavericks over the offseason.
According to ESPN's Brian Windhorst, who appeared on Wednesday's edition of "Get Up," the Warriors are interested in adding a big-time name, with Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler and Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James on their radar.
"The Warriors have been really active in trying to look for a star player," Windhorst said. "They kicked the tires on a couple of other stars over the summer, and if Jimmy Butler is available and the Warriors feel like they need to upgrade, that could be. But who else is on their list? That's LeBron James... The Warriors have dreamed of pairing LeBron with Steph Curry and Draymond Green since last year... They will definitely monitor the situation."
Curry and LeBron notably teamed up for the first time over the summer, leading Team USA to its fifth gold medal in a row at the 2024 Paris Games. As Windhorst mentioned, "King James" would have to approve a trade if the Warriors did want to acquire him. With the recent history, that could be one of the few options the four-time MVP authorizes.
Steph Curry and LeBron James at the Paris Olympics © Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports © Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports
During the offseason, the Warriors attempted to acquire other stars, including forwards Lauri Markkanen and Paul George. However, the former resigned with the Utah Jazz, and the latter joined the Philadelphia 76ers.
If Golden State does manage to trade for LeBron or even Butler, it could become a serious threat to win its fifth title in the Curry dynasty. But, it would likely require parting ways with young stars like Kuminga or Brandin Podziemski, among others.
Related: Fans React To New Warriors Trade Report
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This story was originally published December 11, 2024, 7:55 AM.