LeBron James is about to hit unrestricted free agency, and the rumor mill won’t let the Warriors go. NBC Sports insider Monte Poole broke down why a James-Warriors pairing isn’t as far-fetched as the cap numbers suggest.
Money isn’t what drives James at 41, according to Poole, and the chance to play alongside rivals could be exactly what pulls him to the Bay Area. The Lakers remain the favorite, but Golden State hasn’t backed off, and the reasoning behind their pitch says plenty about where James’ head is as the offseason approaches.
The Warriors Aren’t Giving Up on This One
James enters free agency this offseason with an expiring $52.6 million contract, and according to Marc Stein of The Stein Line, the Warriors still see themselves as real players for his services.
Stein’s reporting says Golden State remains legitimately interested in adding James to a core built around Curry, Butler and Draymond Green, all under Steve Kerr. NBC Sports’ Monte Poole sees the appeal going beyond just roster fit.
“He would be playing with some guys he really respects, Butler, Curry and Draymond. For a guy like LeBron at this stage of his career, he would at least consider doing that,” Poole said.
The expectation around the league is that James stays in Los Angeles. He’s spent eight seasons there and is about as entrenched as a player gets. But the Warriors’ pitch reportedly includes a workaround: James could commute from LA to some degree without uprooting his family.
Money won’t be the deciding factor, according to Poole. “I don’t think at this stage of his career, LeBron is motivated by money,” he said.
“He’s a billionaire! With a B! I think he’s playing for other reasons, family being one of them. He likes a challenge,” Poole added.
The Lakers can offer roughly $52.6 million more, but that gap matters less than it used to for a guy who already won a title in LA, back in 2020. For James, this isn’t about dollars.
Curry, Butler, and Draymond Are the Real Pitch
Poole’s case for Golden State also comes down to one thing: James likes a challenge. He pointed to what’s playing out with the Lakers as evidence James might be ready for something different.
The Austin Reaves and Luka Dončić experiment in LA had its moments, but the latter’s injury and the franchise’s pivot toward building around him going forward signaled the Lakers aren’t James’ team anymore.
Golden State wouldn’t hand him the keys either, but that’s sort of the point. Fans already got a preview of a Curry-James pairing at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where the two clicked under Kerr and helped Team USA roll to gold.
An 82-game season is a different animal, but the chemistry was real. And James, even at 41, isn’t just a symbolic add. He averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists last season in a smaller role than he’s used to, appearing in 60 games.
His 1,989 total minutes would have ranked second on the Warriors, trailing only Brandin Podziemski. Getting younger remains Golden State’s long-term priority. This wouldn’t help with that. But championship windows don’t wait for timelines to line up.
