If there's a blockbuster trade to be made, it's a safe bet that the Los Angeles Lakers will be involved in some capacity. More often than not, it's the Lakers who are on the receiving end of the superstar package that sets the rumor mill ablaze.
At the 2024 NBA trade deadline, however, there were conversations that would've seen Los Angeles effectively blow up its current championship window—with LeBron James headed elsewhere.
James is preparing for his seventh season with the Lakers. He's already played in the purple and gold longer than he did with the Miami Heat, and has even spent more seasons in Los Angeles than he did with the Cleveland Cavaliers during his second stint with the team.
According to NBA insider Marc Stein, however, James was nearly traded to the Golden State Warriors in 2024—until his agent, Rich Paul, stepped in to diffuse the situation.
"It is believed that the Lakers would have reluctantly entertained trade conversations with the Warriors before last February's trade deadline if James wanted them to seriously engage Golden State on a potential deal. Yet league sources say that the reported talks between the teams at the time never got that far in large part because James' agent Rich Paul was adamantly opposed to the idea of James swapping Southern California for Northern California."
Stein elaborated, explaining that Paul feared what it would do to James' reputation if he were to join what would be his fourth NBA franchise.
"Sources say Paul implored both teams to scrap the concept — despite some owner-to-owner dialogue between the Warriors' Joe Lacob and the Lakers' Jeanie Buss and Green's determination to lobby James to push for relocation to the Bay Area — largely because he wanted to insulate James from potential backlash over switching teams for the fourth time in his career."
For as irrational as it would be to fault a 39-year-old veteran of 21 seasons for wanting to maximize their chances of winning, Paul and James have unique experience with groundless criticism.
LeBron James was nearly traded to the Golden State Warriors in 2023-24
Curry and James were teammates this summer with Team USA at the 2024 Summer Olympics. They inevitably utilized their legendary experience on a championship stage to help propel the Americans past some of the toughest competition the country has faced in 5-on-5 men's basketball.
That includes an incredible gold medal game against France, during which Curry refused to miss down the stretch and James posted 14 points and 10 assists to pace Team USA to the win.
That's only strengthened the resolve of fans and players who have been dreaming of a scenario in which these long-time rivals could become NBA teammates. Even Lakers reserve Christian Wood took to X to implore the living legends to join forces in the Association.
There's certainly reason to be intrigued, as Curry and James have won a combined eight championships, six NBA MVP awards, and three scoring titles.
With Draymond Green leading the push for a team-up with James, the Lakers were close to parting ways with the face of the franchise. It's a fact that casts an even broader cloud of confusion over the franchise's approach to the 2024 offseason, during which it's all but refused to add new pieces.
Perhaps it's further evidence that the front office truly believes that Darvin Ham was the issue all along, with the hiring of JJ Redick meant to both appease James and change the culture overall.
Regardless of what ultimately led to the Lakers' decision to reconsider the trade, James will be back with the franchise in 2024-25. He and Anthony Davis have built an impressive amount of momentum heading into the season as teammates and gold medalists at the 2024 Olympic Games.
Curry and James might not be teammates in the Bay Area, but Davis and James have already proven they can deliver a championship to Southern California.