Inside the Lakers-Warriors Trade Talks: How Lakers Top Player Move Was Halted.

The Los Angeles Lakers doubled down on their commitment to LeBron James by signing him to a two-year, $104 million contract extension and drafting his eldest son, Bronny James. However, before this, the situation almost took a different turn. During the February trade deadline, Lakers owner Jeanie Buss didn’t immediately dismiss an inquiry from Golden State Warriors owner Joe Lacob regarding a potential trade for LeBron. Instead, she referred the decision to LeBron’s camp, as reported by ESPN.

As the new season progresses, if things go off track for the Lakers, it’s expected that the Warriors will revisit trade discussions. Grant Hughes from Bleacher Report speculated on what a trade package for LeBron James might look like.

Proposed Trade Scenario:
Warriors receive: LeBron James
Lakers receive: Andrew Wiggins, Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody, Kevon Looney, 2026 first-round pick, 2028 first-round pick, 2030 first-round pick (1-20 protected)

Hughes admits that the cost would be significant, given that LeBron is entering his 40th year. Golden State would part with their remaining first-round picks and young talents like Kuminga. Despite this, Hughes suggests that the Lakers would likely only consider such a trade if LeBron specifically requested it.

Lakers’ Future Without LeBron:

Hughes notes that while the chances of this trade happening are slim, such a move would position the Lakers for a post-LeBron era. The proposed package would include Wiggins and Kuminga, who could complement the Lakers’ backcourt of D’Angelo Russell and Austin Reaves with their athleticism. This would also allow Anthony Davis to take on a more central role on both offense and defense. Additionally, the future draft picks would help the team rebuild over time.

Rich Paul’s Role in Blocking the Trade:

NBA insider Marc Stein reported on Substack that LeBron’s agent, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports, was the key figure in stopping the trade talks before they progressed. While there were initial discussions between Joe Lacob and Jeanie Buss, Paul was firmly against the idea of LeBron moving from Southern California to Northern California. Stein explained that Paul’s primary concern was protecting LeBron’s image, as moving to a fourth team could have triggered backlash.

Paul’s influence led to the talks never advancing beyond the exploratory phase. Even though Draymond Green advocated for LeBron to join the Warriors, Paul was adamant about avoiding such a move.

LeBron later confirmed that he was unaware of the trade rumors until they became public, saying during a February 18 appearance on TNT’s “Inside the NBA” that he found out about the talks at the same time as everyone else.