The NBA offseason has barely started, yet one storyline refuses to fade. LeBron James is about to become an unrestricted free agent, and the Golden State Warriors keep circling.
James, 41, enters the summer with an expiring $52.6 million deal. The league mostly expects him to stay with the Lakers after eight seasons and a 2020 title in Los Angeles. Even so, Marc Stein reports that Golden State still views itself as a real contender for his services. The pitch would slot him next to Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green under coach Steve Kerr. Reportedly, it even includes a workaround that lets James commute from LA so his family stays put.
Why LeBron might actually listen
NBC Sports insider Monte Poole believes the idea is far from crazy. In his view, money no longer drives James at this stage. After all, the man is a billionaire. Instead, Poole argues that family and competitive hunger shape his choices now, and James simply loves a challenge. Playing beside stars he deeply respects, such as Curry, Butler and Green, is exactly the kind of swing he might consider.
The Lakers can offer roughly $52.6 million more than anyone else. However, the situation in LA has shifted. The franchise has pivoted toward building around Luka Dončić, which signals the team no longer belongs to James. Golden State would not hand him the keys either, but for Poole, that is precisely the appeal.
Not everyone wants this
Channing Frye, who won a title with James in Cleveland, hates the idea. On the Up and Adams Show, he reacted with disgust and pleaded with his former teammate not to do it. To Frye, the move would be a nightmare and a bad story, and he wants the Curry rivalry preserved as history. The two icons met in four straight NBA Finals from 2015 to 2018, and Frye lived through two of those wars.
Still, his nightmare keeps inching toward reality. The Warriors famously tried to trade for James before the 2024 deadline, and he declined. Now the dynamic looks different. Curry and Green reportedly plan to recruit him hard, and Curry will meet James in the coming weeks. Moreover, James is said to be curious about the pairing himself.
The fit makes sense on paper
Fans got a preview at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where James and Curry clicked under Kerr and rolled to gold. Both remain productive too. Curry averaged 26.6 points last season, while James posted 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists across 60 games. In fact, his 1,989 minutes would have ranked second on the Warriors roster.
Golden State could offer the $15.1 million midlevel exception or chase a sign and trade. Either way, the suitors will line up. So buckle up, because this saga is only beginning.
SOURCE: Fadeaway world
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