The LeBron James rumors are back again for the Golden State Warriors. Every few months it seems there is rumor and speculation that James could join the franchise since he is set to be a free agent following this season.
If the Warriors did bring James aboard, it could extend the dynasty but at a price that is far too lofty to consider.
No, not just a monetary cost, although surely James would command a King's ransom (how fitting), but more due to the fact that it would just not feel right to see him on the Warriors. He's been a sworn enemy to Warriors fans since the Warriors faced off against the Cleveland Cavaliers in four straight NBA Finals, and it would just be jarring to see him alongside Stephen Curry in the blue and gold.
Warriors adding LeBron James in offseason would just feel plain wrong
Sure, the two have been teammates at the Olympics so we've seen it before, but that is different. That is when all the best players come together to represent their country, but seeing James in a Warriors uniform would just feel...wrong.
Draymond Green would certainly like to bring James aboard given their relationship, but it's questionable whether James would even make the Warriors a true contender. They would be so old and injury-prone, two things they already are, so it's very doubtful they'd be able to truly contend with the best teams in the Western Conference.
At the very least, it would extend the Warriors' relevance as the media would eat up Curry and James teaming up after they've been rivals for their entire careers.
Personally, seeing James on the Warriors would just be a bridge too far. Even when the team signed Kevin Durant, it felt a little wrong. It felt unfair and uncompetitive to add a player like Durant to a roster that was already so stacked. Most would have preferred Durant stay in Oklahoma City and try to win a title there, even if it may have meant one or two fewer championships for Golden State.
There would be a lot of Golden State fans who really don't want to have to cheer for James. The fanbase has been actively rooting against him for so many years that it would be tough to have to begrudgingly pull for him.
There's been a lot of talk about Curry being Batman and Jimmy Butler being Robin in recent years, so to make an analogy firmly steeped in the DC universe, adding James would be like Ra's al Ghul dipping himself in the Lazarus Pit to extend his life even further while corroding his brain and his soul.
Let the dynasty slowly die with honor rather than try to keep it alive with a geriatric roster by bringing a guy aboard who has been the villain for Warriors fans for so many years.
Still, regardless of the thoughts of fans, these rumors are not going anywhere. If James did end up on the Warriors, it may make the team more competitive, but at too great a cost to the soul and spirit of Golden State's dynasty.