Could LeBron James really end up with Warriors?

The latest person to throw fuel on the fire is longtime NBA analyst Bill Simmons, who said on his podcast that if he had to pick a team for James outside of the Lakers, he’d lean toward the Warriors.

“Honestly, if I had to bet my life on a team, I’d think I would bet on them,” Simmons said.

To be clear, Simmons wasn’t reporting anything.

But the Warriors have been connected to James before, and not just by rumor. Golden State explored the possibility of acquiring him during his Lakers tenure, and league insiders have continued to mention the Warriors whenever James’ future comes up.

Most recently, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst suggested Golden State is among the teams worth watching if James and the Lakers can’t reach common ground on a new contract.

The challenge, of course, is figuring out the money.

The Warriors already have major salary commitments tied to Curry and Jimmy Butler, while James remains one of the biggest names in the sport, even at age 41.

Then again, if the goal is one final run at a championship, stranger things have happened.

That said, the expectation around the NBA remains that James will either re-sign with the Lakers or at least continue negotiating with them.

But as free agency approaches, the Warriors aren’t going away as a potential destination.

And that’s one reason the speculation refuses to die.

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