Report: Warriors not the only team to pursue LeBron James trade

The basketball world woke up to a Valentine's Day bombshell as a report from ESPN claimed that the Warriors pursued a trade for LeBron James ahead of the Feb. 8 trade deadline.

It turns out the Warriors weren't the only team trying to acquire the aging Lakers star. According to the same report, from Adrian Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelburne, the Philadelphia 76ers also inquired about James' availability with hopes of pairing him up with Joel Embiid.

The report noted that, when Sixers president Daryl Morey stumbled across James' infamous hourglass emoji, he perceived it as a sign of the All-Star forward wanting out of Los Angeles. He would immediately call Lakers GM Rob Pelinka, and despite being turned down, he'd be asked about Embiid's availability.

"…Daryl Morey called Pelinka to probe on a James trade and was immediately told that James wasn't available. In fact, Pelinka responded by asking Morey if Joel Embiid was available, sources said. And that ended that brief conversation."

After being shunned by the Lakers, the overambitious Morey turned his attention to Suns forward Kevin Durant, the report added. He would be turned down again.

As intriguing as the prospect of James teaming up with Curry sounds, the pick-and-roll tandem of James and Embiid would have given opposition coaches sleepless nights. In some ways, fans ought to be pleased that neither trade went through. After years, there's actual parity in the NBA.