No matter what happens this offseason for the Golden State Warriors, LeBron James will continue to dominate the headlines. It's simply the inevitable result of the rumors connecting the Warriors to the 41-year-old superstar.
The Warriors have needs James can't address. With the futures of both Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford in doubt, they'll likely need to add a center this offseason. They also need additional frontcourt help, some more perimeter shooting, and an additional backcourt presence to augment Stephen Curry's off-ball approach.
But at the end of the day, James will be where the attention crystallizes, and rightfully so. James is still one of the top players in the league even at his age. With his future with the Los Angeles Lakers in doubt, a sign-and-trade remains a distinct possibility this offseason.
Marc Stein and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line reported earlier this week that Golden State has legitimate interest in acquiring James. James has a player option for $52 million next season, and any move would require a massive pay-cut on his part.
It's not outside of the realm of possibility. But Warriors fans need to acclimate themselves to one reality if the team is ultimately going to make this move.
James' arrival might sell tickets, but it would signify a bittersweet (if nostalgic) end to the Curry era in Golden State.
The Warriors can't be a championship contending team with LeBron James as a central part of their core
Don't get it wrong— James is still one of the top players in the NBA. Across 60 games this season, he averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 7.2 assists while shooting 51.5% from the field. Although he's taken on more of an off-ball role in Los Angeles with the arrival of Luka Doncic and the emergence of Austin Reaves, his presence is still felt in almost every game.
But Curry is 38 years old. Draymond Green is 36. Jimmy Butler will be 37 when he returns and will be coming off of an ACL tear.
With James in the fold, the Warriors would have a bona-fide second offensive option to turn to apart from Curry. The fit, with James' rim-running and physically imposing presence and Curry's off-ball movement, would also be more than appealing.
But it's almost difficult to exaggerate how injury-prone this team would be. A playoff series victory, let alone a deep playoff run, is difficult to imagine.
Even beyond that, though, the resources necessary to acquire James would likely stunt Golden State's long-term development beyond the Curry era. At the very least, it would take away playing time and opportunities from any young players on the roster. A move for James therefore, would be an all-in move without the potential pay-off that a deal for a star like Kawhi Leonard would carry.
Would a pairing of James and Curry sell tickets? Would it be the spectacle of the NBA for as long as it lasted? Almost certainly.
But the Warriors would effectively be waving the white flag on the Curry era by making that move. With the way the Western Conference is currently constructed, there's almost no shot a James-Curry pairing is enough to topple a team like the San Antonio Spurs or the Oklahoma City Thunder.
If Golden State wants to cash in on the nostalgia of the end of Curry's career, so be it. But a trade for James would represent the final major action of this era of the Warriors, and it's not likely to be one that leads to winning either in the short-term or the long-term.
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