It was reported back in February that the Golden State Warriors pursued a trade for Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James ahead of last season’s trade deadline.
James ended up staying put in Los Angeles and still remains a member of the Lakers, but ESPN’s Brian Windhorst indicated this week that there’s been chatter about the 39-year-old revisiting the idea of a trade to Golden State.
Brian Windhorst pours some cold water on the idea, detailing how tough that trade would be. pic.twitter.com/YM1CgG0hM3
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“I’m very interested in all this,” Windhorst said. “I would be lying if I said that there isn’t been some conversations in the league (about), ‘Would LeBron at some point this year revisit that?’ Because you remember last year at the trade deadline, the Warriors called.”
Windhorst cautioned, however, that there are other factors to consider, making a trade seem unlikely.
“But I just wanna say a couple things,” Windhorst said. “First off, any trade that the Warriors make is gonna be complicated. They have only $500,000 that they’re allowed to spend more in this season. It’s first, second apron stuff — I know it’s boring. Any trade that they make, they really can’t take on more money. Guess what? The Lakers are not allowed to take on any money ’cause they’re in the first apron.
“So, it’s possible if LeBron wanted it. Also, LeBron has a no-trade clause. Also also, the Lakers don’t own their first-round pick. It goes unprotected to the Atlanta Hawks.
“… So, I would just say that twice in the last 10 months, LeBron has had an opportunity to leave the Lakers. One, at the trade deadline last year when the Warriors called. The Lakers went to LeBron and said, ‘Do you seriously wanna get traded?’ He said, ‘No.’ Last summer he became a free agent. He re-signed with the Lakers.
“… LeBron has repeatedly made it clear he wants to be a Laker. And if that’s the case, he’s got a no-trade clause. There’s nothin’ really to talk about.”
Windhorst’s report comes as both the Warriors and Lakers are amid slumps.
Starting with the Lakers, they’re riding a three-game losing streak and are 2-7 over their last nine games. Los Angeles is now only one win above the .500 mark on the season at 12-11.
To add insult to injury, the Lakers had one of the best records in the Western Conference not long ago. Los Angeles went on a six-game winning streak early in the campaign and had a record of 10-4 at one point.
The storied franchise’s most recent loss should sting especially hard. As Windhorst mentioned, the Hawks have the Lakers’ first-round pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, and Los Angeles fell to Atlanta in overtime.
The Warriors have played about as poorly as the Lakers have of late, as Golden State is 1-6 over its last seven games. The team just recently lost five games in a row and is now on the heels of a loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
But maybe a player of James’ caliber is what the Warriors need to get back on the right track and win another championship in the Stephen Curry era. James may be slowing down, but he has contributed across the board for the Lakers so far in his 22nd season in the league, as he’s averaging 23.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 9.1 assists per game.
According to Windhorst, any trade that would involve James getting dealt to the Warriors would be complicated, but maybe that shouldn’t deter the Warriors from trying to make a deal for one of the most accomplished players in NBA history.
