LeBron James and Stephen Curry | Photo: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
The Golden State Warriors of the National Basketball Association (NBA) failed to convince the Los Angeles Lakers to trade LeBron James during the trade period. says influential ESPN columnists Adrian Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelborn.
The exchange period ended on February 8. It is the last day of the “deadline” that is always the time when NBA teams often make the most daring and loud deals. The Warriors had a similar plan, trying to lure LeBron away from the Lakers so he could join forces with his longtime rival, fellow league superstar Stephen Curry.
According to ESPN, Warriors player Draymond Green had called team owner Joe Lacob to discuss a potential deal, as LeBron posted posts on his social media accounts prior to the end of the trade period that fueled speculation about his future in Los Angeles.
In the last 24 hours of the deadline, Lakob and Lakers owner Gene Bass held several talks about trading LeBron, but LeBron himself and the Lakers management did not want to participate in this transaction. However, Basa had indicated that Lakob, along with Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy, should approach LeBron’s agent, Rich Paul. It happened, but Paul’s answer was similar – LeBron wants to stay in the “Lakers” team.
Previously, LeBron had said that he would like to play on the same team as Curry at the end of his career. That possibility still partially exists, as LeBron can become a free agent after this season if he opts out of the final year of his $51.4 million contract. ESPN knows that the Lakers superstar’s current plan is to stay in Los Angeles.
The 39-year-old LeBron has also had a great performance in his 21st season. He averaged 24.8 points, 7.2 rebounds and 7.8 assists in 49 games. Both the “Lakers” and “Warriors” are currently in the “play-in” zone – the Los Angeles club with 29 wins in 55 games is in ninth place in the Western Conference, while Golden State is one position lower with a record of 26-25.
ESPN Story with @RamonaShelburne: Over a 24-hour window prior to trade deadline that included owner to owner conversations, the Warriors made an unsuccessful bid to convince the Lakers and LeBron James to consider a trade to pair him with Stephen Curry.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 14, 2024
