- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,144,652
- Reaction score
- 59
You must be registered for see images attach
Warriors linked to $101 million Lakers 22-time All-Star again originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The 2026 offseason begins in less than two months, placing a large emphasis on franchises having a clear idea of the assets they want to pursue.
The Golden State Warriors are an organization that falls into that category, as they want to give their star point guard, Stephen Curry, another shot at a championship before retiring.
Bringing four-time NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James is one way to improve Golden State’s odds of being highly competitive in the Western Conference in 2026-27. According to ESPN’s Tim Bontemps, the idea of James teaming up with Curry in the Bay isn’t too far-fetched, which is a sentiment that’s been expressed previously.
“He could go sign with one of those teams (Warriors, Cleveland Cavaliers, or Miami Heat) for something other than the minimum,” Bontemps said Wednesday. “They have exceptions where they could sign him on those teams, just be clear. There’s the tax mid-level, he could sign for about $15 million, about $6 million, or the minimum; those are the options.”
Considering it’s unlikely, James agrees to a minimum contract ahead of what could be the final season of his career, signing for either $15 million or $6 million is a more realistic scenario.
As Bontemps noted during ESPN’s Brian Windhorst’s ‘Hoop Collective’ podcast, though, the Warriors, and any other team interested in James this summer, should have a clear understanding of what the 41-year-old would bring to the table at this stage of his career.
James' on- and off-ball defense has declined with age, making him most effective as a high-IQ downhill scoring threat with arguably the most polished low- and mid-post game in the NBA.
James averaged 20.9 points, 7.2 assists, and 6.1 rebounds per game this season, shooting 51.5% from the field and 31.7% from beyond the arc.
If the Warriors can overlook James’ defensive limitations, they should be intrigued with the thought of the future Hall of Famer joining the fold this summer.
More NBA news:
Lakers named best fit for record-setting $53.8 million star
Jazz, Hawks, Bulls, Nets named top landing spots for $53 million Lakers superstar
Lakers predicted to cut ties with Dalton Knecht, acquire $175 million two-time MVP
Continue reading...
