The closer the 2024-25 NBA calendar has gotten to the unofficial start date of NBA trade season, the more everyone has heard the Golden State Warriors pop up in the rumor mill. This should come as no surprise.
The Warriors revamped their roster in the offseason after the departure of Klay Thompson. Things looked very promising initially. However, as the season has gone along, it has become abundantly clear that the Warriors still need that one last push to truly be a championship contender this season.
The idea of pairing Stephen Curry with LeBron James has been around since last year. The excitement levels around that potential duo only grew when the two won gold together for Team USA in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
If the rumor mill is to be believed, the Warriors have not given up on the idea of bringing James to Golden State just yet. The are several factors that need to be considered before truly letting one's mind run wild here.
First and foremost, James has a no-trade clause on his contract. The decision to put an end to his time in Los Angeles would be completely up to him.
Should LeBron give his blessing, the next part is also tricky. How much is a soon-to-be 40-year-old James worth in a trade? That is a tough question to answer.
A mock trade between the two sides could involve the Warriors acquiring LeBron and Bronny James in exchange for Andrew Wiggins, Jonathan Kuminga, Lindy Waters, De'Anthony Melton, and a protected 2027 first-round pick.
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The trouble with fixating on James' trade value is a mixture of his name value and age. The latter makes it particularly tough to figure out the assets that the Warriors would need to cough up in order to acquire him.
One would imagine James only has a couple of years left in the tank, so this would be an all-or-nothing move to win in the immediate future. Based on the contracts and the need to sufficiently satisfy the Lakers' interest in moving James, Kuminga would almost certainly be gone.
The draft capital in this deal is disputable, based on the perceived value that LeBron would have. However, the opportunity for the Lakers to reroute Wiggins for more picks at a later date should offer them reasonable satisfaction, if they are to pursue a rebuild.
This deal would have to wait until after Dec. 15, due to recently-signed restrictions for both Melton and James. After that, one can certainly allow their imagination to wander.
Related: Would This Potential Blockbuster Trade Allow Warriors To Compete For A Championship?
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This story was originally published December 11, 2024, 11:05 AM.