The Golden State Warriors might be in the market to make a splash of a move this season.
One of the best dynasties in the history of the NBA came in the past decade. The Golden State Warriors won four titles with their core of Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson (with a hint of Kevin Durant for a few seasons), while even posting a 73-9 record in 2016.
Along the way, they had some incredible battles with current Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James — arguably the greatest player to touch a basketball. They were iconic and they are grained into the league’s history as one of the most chaotic, entertaining storylines.
Last season, the Warriors tried to acquire James in a trade that would have broken the basketball world. Should they try and do it again?
The Warriors are currently 13-8 on the season. With Thompson on the Dallas Mavericks, Curry and Green have plenty of support from the depth on the roster, but there is a glaring need for a No. 2 option alongside Curry. Golden State is looking for it, too, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
“The Warriors are on the real hunt for a star — a playmaker, a scorer — alongside Stephen Curry,” Charania reported. “…For them, are they going to find that externally outside of this roster currently, or will it be in-house, with a player like Jonathan Kuminga?”
This, of course, sparked a conversation. Who will be the second star the Warriors acquire? ESPN’s Michael Wilbon had quite a strong idea, pitching that Golden State should trade for LeBron James.
“Let’s cut to the chase with this. All those assets are great if Steph and Draymond were 31 and 32 years old. But they’re not 31 and 32 years old,” Wilbon said.
“…If anybody saw the Olympics this summer, and you saw LeBron James and Stephen Curry play together, how can you not want to see that?
Kendrick Perkins, a former teammate of James’ and NBA champion, agreed with Wilbon’s pitch.
“What star is out there that is going to move the needle so that they can actually have a legitimate shot at winning a championship, that makes the most sense?” Perkins asked.
“They’re looking for a playmaker, right? that’s LeBron James. You need the size because the wing position is the most important position in the NBA, that’s LeBron James.”
There seems to be agreement that the Warriors should pursue James. The on-court fit is there and it would be the biggest move Golden State can make. The Bay Area would also then become the Mecca of basketball. They would be the biggest club in the world if they paired Curry and James.
Is the move possible, though? ESPN’s Brian Windhorst broke down the actual possibility of such a big move.
“Is it possible for the two of them to make a trade together? Yes, but it’s hard. And it’s going to almost guaranteed to require a third team,” Windhorst said. “I always like to say, a three-team trade is a no-team trade.
“… Twice in the last ten months, LeBron has had an opportunity to leave the Lakers. Once last year at the trade deadline when the Warriors called. The Lakers came to LeBron, he did not go forward with that. This summer, he was an unrestricted free agent. He told the Lakers, ‘I will take less money if you can go build this roster up.’”
The Lakers did not build the roster up, yet James re-signed in Los Angeles. It’s hard to imagine he wants to leave the city, especially with his son on the roster. However, a pairing that could break the basketball world should certainly be appealing for the near-40-year-old.
For the Warriors, they should be doing everything possible to make this happen. Their current roster won’t win a title, and they’ve got to make a move anyway. Why not go all in and please Curry after the career he’s had in the Bay Area?
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