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The Golden State Warriors are trying to make one last run at winning a championship. With Steph Curry still playing at a high level, Golden State wants to take advantage of that for as long as possible. They tried to do that by trading for Jimmy Butler.
Butler proceeded to tear his ACL and is out for the rest of the season. Currently, Curry is dealing with a knee issue of his own. He has missed the last 15 games due to that knee injury. Without him, the Warriors have fallen to ninth in the Western Conference standings.
At this point, they may have started looking forward to next season instead. They are expected to pursue LeBron James in free agency, according to a report.
GettyLos Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James dribbles the ball. (Photo by Chris Swann/Clarkson Creative/Getty Images)
The Warriors Will Pursue LeBron James in the Offseason
Warriors beat reporter Nick Fridell was on the Zach Lowe Show and spoke about the possibility of the team pursuing James.
“There are only so many teams at this point that can take on LeBron and the star wattage that he carries. The Warriors have done it before. They know what it’s like to live under that microscope…they would be fascinating to watch.”
Fridell continued to talk about reasons why this could happen.
“We know LeBron and Draymond’s relationship is well-established. LeBron and Steph’s relationship has gone through a lot of peaks and valleys through the years. I remember talking to Steph at the beginning of the year, and he said, ‘Hey, we are going to do a lot of business together in the future. That’s something that we’ve talked about.’ And I think a relationship that started out a little icy, especially as Steph rose to his own prominence…I think has thawed.”
James has a player option at the end of the season on his contract. If he declines it, he can become a free agent. Of course, he would have to take a pay cut to join the Warriors. That’s especially true if they keep Draymond Green on the team.
GettyLos Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James drives the ball. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
Golden State is Still Chasing one Final Title
The Warriors still believe that they can win a championship with Curry playing at this level. That will not last forever. Curry will be 38 years old in a few days. His years of effectiveness are dwindling fast. James is already 41 years old and has already played more minutes than anyone else.
Having those two players team up for a year would certainly be exciting. It’s unclear if James would want to leave LA for the Bay Area. There have been rumors that James would like to head to Cleveland for his final year in the league instead of going somewhere else.
If the Warriors can’t land James, they have to find some other star player to help them get over the hump. Next season could be the last chance they have of competing for a title.