The possibility of LeBron James leaving the Los Angeles Lakers to end his career continues to grow, with one of the NBA’s most prominent voices suggesting the Golden State Warriors could be a team to watch.
“Before we talk about Giannis, LeBron, what happened is a good thing,” Simmons said on his podcast. “It’s really interesting because the Warriors are actually playing right now, like for real. I really feel like if I had to bet my life on one team, I think I’d bet on them.”
While Simmons did not report any inside information, his comments fueled speculation that has followed James and the Warriors for years. The potential partnership between LeBron James and Stephen Curry has long been viewed as one of the league’s biggest what-if scenarios, especially after the two had success with Team USA under Warriors head coach Steve Kerr.
However, the Lakers remained firmly in the game.
“I’ll be watching the Golden State Warriors game,” ESPN’s Brian Windhorst Windhorst said on The Pat McAfee Show. “He played in the Olympics with Steph Curry and Steve Kerr. You know he’s close with Draymond Green.”
Windhorst also estimated the likelihood of James staying with the Lakers at about 51 percent, although he believes the Golden State Warriors would be the biggest threat if the four-time NBA champion decided to leave Los Angeles.
Any move comes with significant financial hurdles. The Warriors already have Curry and Jimmy Butler signed to huge contracts, so it would be difficult to add another superstar without making major roster changes.
James is not expected to simply materialize the move at a steep discount. Any team hoping to sign him will likely need to offer a compelling championship opportunity while also finding a way to meet his salary expectations.
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