The Los Angeles Lakers reaffirmed their commitment to LeBron James by offering him a two-year, $104 million contract extension and selecting his eldest son, Bronny James, in the draft.
However, before reaching this point, things nearly fell apart at the February trade deadline. Lakers owner Jeanie Buss didn’t immediately reject a trade proposal from Golden State Warriors owner Joe Lacob for James, instead leaving the decision to James’ team, according to ESPN.
If the Lakers encounter more challenges this season, it’s anticipated that the Warriors might explore trade talks again. Grant Hughes from Bleacher Report speculated on a potential trade package the Warriors could offer for James.
Golden State Warriors would receive: LeBron James
Los Angeles Lakers would receive: Andrew Wiggins, Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody, Kevon Looney, 2026 first-round pick, 2028 first-round pick, and a 2030 first-round pick (top 20 protected).
“The price is steep, especially given James will soon turn 40. Golden State would be surrendering its remaining first-round assets (excluding swaps) and a potential future star in Kuminga. Yet, it feels like the Lakers would only entertain such an offer if James explicitly requested a trade,” Hughes noted.
Lakers’ Outlook if They Trade LeBron James
Hughes commented, “The likelihood of a trade like this actually occurring might seem incredibly slim,” but if it did happen, the Lakers would be well-positioned for a post-LeBron era.
Hughes’ proposed trade package from the Warriors is quite comprehensive, including a former All-Star in Wiggins who could contribute immediately, alongside young talents and future draft picks to secure long-term success.
Wiggins and Kuminga could enhance the D’Angelo Russell-Austin Reaves backcourt with their athleticism, improving perimeter defense. Meanwhile, Anthony Davis would become the central figure for both offense and defense.
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Rich Paul Prevented LeBron James-to-Warriors Trade
According to NBA insider Marc Stein on Substack, it was LeBron James’ influential agent, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports, who halted the trade discussions before they progressed beyond the initial stage.
Stein reported on August 18 that while the Lakers might have considered trade talks with the Warriors before the February deadline if James had pushed for it, the discussions never advanced significantly. This was primarily due to Paul’s strong opposition to the idea of James moving from Southern California to Northern California.
Paul was concerned about protecting James’ public image, as Stein noted.
“Sources say Paul urged both teams to abandon the trade idea, despite some discussions between Warriors owner Joe Lacob and Lakers owner Jeanie Buss, and Green’s efforts to persuade James to consider a move to the Bay Area. Paul wanted to shield James from potential backlash over a fourth team switch in his career,” Stein wrote.
James himself revealed that he only learned about the trade discussions when they became public.
“It [the trade talks] didn’t go far at all,” James stated on TNT’s “Inside the NBA” on February 18. “I actually heard about it when everybody else did. Obviously, Charles [Barkley], Kenny [Smith], and Shaq have been in the league, and sometimes, there are conversations behind closed doors that you don’t even know about.”