Rich Paul speaks on LeBron James potentially joining Steph Curry.
LeBron James has yet to make a decision on his future, remaining an unrestricted free agent after informing the Los Angeles Lakers that he would not be returning after eight seasons.
LeBron has narrowed down his list of potential suitors to the Cleveland Cavaliers, Philadelphia 76ers, Miami Heat, New York Knicks, Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, San Antonio Spurs, and Golden State Warriors.
Those are the four teams that made Rich Paul's whiteboard on his Game Over podcast with Max Kellerman.
The Warriors have been heavily linked to LeBron since the offseason began, as it would keep LeBron in California, where he's established roots over the last eight years, and give him the chance to play alongside Steph Curry, the second greatest player of this generation behind LeBron.
Rich Paul Speaks On LeBron-Warriors
On the latest episode of Game Over, Rich Paul discussed LeBron's potential fit on the Warriors.
“If we’re talking strictly basketball, you don’t want to play them. You definitely don’t want to play them in a playoff series. Healthy. You don’t want to get to the trade deadline and have little surface-level, around-the-edges type of moves made. You talk about just basketball brilliance of mind, experience, and production," he said.
Kellerman mentioned the health concerns with the Warriors, and Paul didn't want to focus on that aspect of things.
"If you look at all these scenarios about plugging and playing someone's talent level that he is, just get through the 82 (regular season games). Get through the 82 and start the playoffs healthy. If there is a capability of identifying in November or December and having the capacity to fill those voids to where, come April, you have a strong nine, you gotta like your chances against anybody," said Paul.
Rich Paul's Assessment
While Paul is correct in saying that a core of LeBron James, Steph Curry, Draymond Green, and Kristaps Porzingis gives the Warriors a fighting chance in the playoffs, it's foolish to dismiss the reality of their health.
Curry played 43 games last season, Draymond played 68, and Porzingis played 32. LeBron is the oldest player of the four, and he's proven to be the most durable throughout his career.
Adding Anthony Davis, which has been heavily rumored in ties to LeBron going to Golden State, wouldn't help their health issues as he played just 20 games last season.
Getting through 82 games healthy is easier said than done, and being 100% healthy for the playoffs might not matter if the team is a lower seed or didn't fully establish chemistry due to guys missing too many regular season games.
