LeBron James‘ decision is one of the biggest storylines of the summer, and nobody but the King himself knows which way he’s leaning. Whether it’s retirement, a return to the Lakers, or a fresh start somewhere new, many options are available this offseason, and the path he chooses could have major implications on the NBA hierarchy.
As it stands, re-signing with the Lakers is looking increasingly unlikely for LeBron, and that’s why most experts predict he’ll sign with the Cavaliers. However, according to NBA insider Brett Siegel, the Warriors are not out of the running. In fact, they firmly believe they are in the lead for LeBron, should he decide to part ways with the Purple and Gold this summer.
“In terms of having access to their full mid-level exception, the Warriors firmly believe that they are the frontrunners to land LeBron James if he leaves the Los Angeles Lakers in free agency,” wrote Sigel on Friday. “Once again, Golden State is pursuing LeBron, and this will be their best chance yet… assuming James would even consider taking a massive pay cut to join them. That is a big ask to go from making $50 million to $15 million or $16 million for the year, but this is LeBron we are talking about. He wants to win at the end of his career, and if there is any player who could afford to take this massive reduction in salary and still make up for it in his endorsements and business ventures, it’s LeBron.”
The Warriors have been pursuing LeBron James for years now, and they even attempted to trade for him during the 2023-24 season. While they were unable to pull off a deal at the time, they now have another opportunity. This time, unlike before, they could get him without giving up any of their own players. The only major concern is whether he’d agree to take a pay cut.
Alongside Stephen Curry (his longtime rival), LeBron could thrive in the final years of his career. Even at 41, he can still produce at a high level, and we saw it this past season, when he averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 7.2 assists, 1.2 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game on 51.5% shooting and 31.7% shooting from three. His presence on the wing would provide much-needed playmaking and scoring, easing the pressure off Curry to carry the offense. Together with Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler, James and Curry could lift the Warriors to prominence in the West.
Still, whether the Warriors get LeBron or not, they’ll need to make more moves to compete with the Thunder and Spurs in the West. Unless they re-sign Kristaps Porzingis, they need to find a center that can guard the rim and score in the paint. The Warriors are also on the hunt for a backup point guard who can run the offense when Curry sits.
So far, the Warriors haven’t done much to change the status quo, but it might only take one move to drastically improve their situation. Whether that’s acquiring LeBron James or building up the supporting cast remains to be seen, but it’s clear by now that GM Mike Dunleavy Jr. will not be complacent this summer.
