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Easy NBA mock trade to finally pair LeBron James with Stephen Curry on Golden State Warriors

Originally posted on NBA Analysis Network
By Jonah Kubicek | Last updated Jul 2, 2025 11:04 PM ET

LeBron James and Stephen Curry are both nearing the end of their careers, and both have long expressed interest in playing alongside one another. With Luka Doncic now the face of the Los Angeles Lakers, could the two pair up on the Golden State Warriors?

After trading for Luka Doncic in February, the Los Angeles Lakers still employ LeBron James, but keeping him happy is no longer the top priority.

Instead, the team belongs to Doncic, and there is a growing belief that James could waive his no-trade clause and end his career on a different team.

The Dallas Mavericks make a lot of sense as a LeBron trade destination, as do the Cleveland Cavaliers, but if he wants to go out chasing a championship with a longtime rival, perhaps a trade to the Golden State Warriors makes the most sense, and getting him there is not hard.

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NBA mock trade sends LeBron James to Warriors

James has long had respect for Stephen Curry and Steve Kerr, and it goes both ways. Whenever trade rumors swirl, the Warriors seem to emerge as a viable landing spot, and they were reportedly interested in him fairly recently.

While an aging core is not usually worth breaking the bank for, James brings a high basketball IQ, millions of fans, and should be able to compete for a title next to Curry and Draymond Green.

Getting James to Golden State is easy and simple.

Full Mock Trade Details:

Neither James nor Butler perfectly fits Doncic’s timeline, although Butler is younger and is under contract for longer, so, depending on who the Lakers sign to fill their void at center, a core of Doncic, Butler, and Austin Reaves would work wonders.

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Looping in a third team perfects this trade

While swapping Butler for James works on paper, it does put the Lakers above the second apron, and a 35-year-old is not exactly the type of player you want to limit your flexibility for.

“If the Lakers were fine with that, they could execute the one-for-one trade,” wrote The Athletic’s Fred Katz about LA going over the apron. “However, they may want to maintain flexibility, which they could do somewhat easily. Golden State and Los Angeles could find a third team willing to take on one of the Lakers’ minimum salaries (say, Jordan Goodwin’s) without giving any salary back.”

Teams like the Brooklyn Nets, New Orleans Pelicans, Utah Jazz, and Washington Wizards have no plans to compete next season, and they could be willing to absorb salary from the Lakers in exchange for a second-round pick.

This article first appeared on NBA Analysis Network and was syndicated with permission.

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