LeBron James, Lakers, JJ Redick
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Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) points towards the official after he thought he was fouled driving to the basket against the Milwaukee Bucks in the first half at Crypto.com Arena on January 9, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
The Golden State Warriors’ long-standing interest in LeBron James is back in focus — and this time, the timing may matter more than ever for the Los Angeles Lakers.
According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, Golden State plans to explore the possibility of signing James this offseason, when the four-time MVP is set to become an unrestricted free agent. The renewed interest comes at a volatile moment for the Lakers, just one day after ESPN’s bombshell report detailed an alleged internal friction between James and team governor Jeanie Buss.
“Sources say that the Warriors naturally do plan to feature prominently in the offseason market for LeBron James once he becomes an unrestricted free agent on June 30,” Fischer reported Thursday in The Stein Line, adding that Golden State is also monitoring the trade landscape surrounding Giannis Antetokounmpo.
For the Lakers, the report underscores how quickly James’ future has shifted from assumed stability to open-ended uncertainty.
Warriors’ LeBron James Pursuit Is Not New — But the Circumstances Are
Golden State’s interest in James dates back at least to 2024, when ESPN reported that preliminary discussions about a potential trade originated at the ownership level before being shut down.
Veteran NBA insider Marc Stein later revealed that James’ agent, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul, strongly opposed the idea before it could progress.
“It is believed the Lakers would have reluctantly entertained trade conversations … if James wanted them to seriously engage Golden State,” Stein reported at the time. “Yet league sources say the reported talks never got that far — in large part because his agent Rich Paul was adamantly opposed.”
Paul’s concern, according to Stein, was shielding James from backlash associated with joining a longtime rival and switching teams for a fourth time in his career.
That resistance may no longer apply.
James, now 41, is approaching free agency with no extension in place and no formal commitment from the Lakers.
Chris Haynes: ‘Something’s About to Go Down’
The timing of the renewed Warriors buzz took on added significance after NBA insider Chris Haynes raised alarms following the ESPN report on Buss and James.
Speaking on Wednesday on SiriusXM NBA Radio, Haynes suggested the report’s release could signal impending change.
“I just question, ‘Why now?’” Haynes said. “And if it’s ‘why now,’ usually when things like this start to trickle out, something’s about to go down. I don’t know what that is, but that’s usually how this works.”
Haynes’ comments came after ESPN detailed alleged private frustration from Buss toward James over issues ranging from organizational control to the fallout of the Russell Westbrook trade.
While Buss publicly denied the characterization and called the report “unfair” to James, the story injected fresh doubt into what had long been viewed as a stable partnership.
LeBron’s Contract Status Looms Large for Lakers
James’ free agency looms large.
ESPN’s Dave McMenamin previously reported that James never asked for a contract extension last summer — and that the Lakers did not offer one. Instead, the organization pivoted toward a long-term vision centered on Luka Dončić, positioning James to reach unrestricted free agency for the first time since 2018.
Financial pressure complicates matters further.
While the Lakers could open as much as $50 million in cap space, rising star Austin Reaves is expected to command a contract potentially exceeding $40 million annually, according to The Athletic’s Dan Woike. That reality forces difficult prioritization decisions.
Warriors’ Pitch: Curry, Chemistry, and One Last Run
Golden State’s appeal is obvious.
The 2024 Paris Olympics provided a preview of what a James–Stephen Curry partnership could look like under Team USA head coach Steve Kerr — who also leads the Warriors. The duo thrived together en route to a gold medal, displaying seamless on-court chemistry that reignited league-wide intrigue.
“All the battles we’ve had … the fact that we actually got to be teammates … I think there’s a deepened respect and friendship there,” Curry told People Magazine in September 2024.
Curry later fueled speculation by posting a celebratory photo with James captioned “same team… winning team,” a moment that went viral and resonated with fans across the league.
Why Warriors’ Interest Matters Now
The Warriors’ pursuit does not guarantee anything. But it matters because it reflects a shifting league perception: LeBron James’ future is no longer assumed to be tethered to the Lakers.
Golden State’s interest, paired with Haynes’ warning and James’ looming free agency, places quiet pressure on Los Angeles at a pivotal juncture.
For years, LeBron’s Lakers tenure felt inevitable — if not permanent. Now, for the first time, rival teams are preparing for a scenario where it might not be.
And Haynes put it, when stories start to leak like this, it’s usually because something is coming next.