Warriors should test the waters on a LeBron James trade

LeBron James recently opted into the $52.6M player option on his contract. In doing so, he's ensured that he will become an unrestricted free agent next summer. 

James' future with the Lakers has been a significant talking point since the franchise moved to acquire Luka Doncic on Feb. 2. 

Upon James taking up his player option, his agent, Rich Paul, provided a statement to ESPN. The wording of that statement led many to believe that James was unhappy with the Lakers, due to the team being in the midst of a rebuild.

“LeBron wants to compete for a championship,” Paul said. “He knows the Lakers are building for the future. He understands that, but he values a realistic chance of winning it all. We are very appreciative of the partnership that we've had for eight years with Jeanie (Buss) and Rob (Pelinka) and consider the Lakers as a critical part of his career."

Paul's comments instantly created a whirlwind of rumors and online discussion. If James still wants to contend for championships, then maybe his tenure with the Lakers has run its course. 

In a recent report from ESPN's Brian Windhorst and Ramona Shelburne, it was revealed that the Golden State Warriors were among a "handful of teams" that considered making a trade offer for James on the back of Paul's statement.

"One Eastern Conference executive was convinced James wanted out of LA," Windhorst and Shelburne reported. "A handful of teams -- including the Golden State Warriors, who tried to trade for James in 2023-24 -- considered again whether to make an offer, sources said. One Western Conference executive chalked it up to an elaborate pout because the Lakers hadn't offered James a new contract extension." 

The Warriors are a team very much in the "win now" part of its lifecycle. Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler are all in the twilight of their respective careers. James' desire to compete now, with a keen sense of immediacy, would fit perfectly on coach Steve Kerr's roster. 

Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. and executive chairman Joe Lacob should have tested the Lakers' resolve in keeping James around. Golden State has multiple young talents it could have dangled in trade talks. Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody, Brandin Podziemski and Trayce Jackson-Davis are all part of the Warriors' young core. 

Granted, matching James' lofty salary won't be easy. Golden State would certainly need to part with one or more of its high earners. However, if James is available on the trade market, there are very few teams that make more sense than the Warriors. 

So, while it's unlikely that we see James move to the Bay Area, the Warriors could still look to make a deal happen before the trade deadline. Maybe then, Curry and James could finally make the championship push both have been chasing in recent years. And in return, NBA fans around the world could see two of the greatest players in history pursue success together, if only for a few months.