Warriors Could Be the Team to Steal LeBron James From Lakers

LeBron James is about to hit free agency, and the Golden State Warriors look like a real threat to take him from the Los Angeles Lakers.

The 41-year-old put up 20.9 points, 7.2 assists and 6.1 rebounds in 60 games for a Lakers team that went 53-29 and reached the second round of the playoffs.

But there are growing signs that Los Angeles wants to build around Luka Doncic, and that could push James out the door.

The Warriors went just 37-45 this past year, but injuries told most of the story. Jimmy Butler tore his ACL in January and Stephen Curry missed significant time with a knee issue.

When healthy, Curry showed he is still one of the best scorers in the league, averaging 26.6 points on 39.3% from three in 43 games.

The talent is there, and adding LeBron would change everything.

On a recent episode of his podcast, Bill Simmons made it clear he thinks the Warriors are the most likely landing spot for James this summer.

"Before we get to Giannis, LeBron, what happens with that is a good one. This one is a really fun one because the Warriors is really in play now, like for real. I really feel like if I had to bet my life on a team, I'd think I would bet on them . . . I think that would be the move for me."

Simmons has been plugged into NBA circles for decades, so that kind of confidence means something.

The Warriors have reportedly been interested in bringing James to the Bay Area since the 2024 trade deadline, and this summer could finally be when it happens.

Golden State does not have traditional cap space, but there are ways to make it happen.

If the Warriors let Kristaps Porzingis walk in free agency and Draymond Green takes a lower number on a reworked deal, they could open up the non-taxpayer mid-level exception worth roughly $15 million.

That would mean LeBron takes a huge pay cut from the $52.6 million he earned this past season, but for a billionaire chasing one last ring, the money might matter a lot less than the opportunity.

A lineup built around Curry, James and Green would not be the most athletic group in the West, but the basketball IQ and playoff experience would be hard to match.

Between the three of them sits a combined 12 NBA championships.

If Butler comes back healthy from his ACL rehab by midseason, Golden State would have four proven stars on the floor.

They probably are not catching Oklahoma City or San Antonio in a seven-game series, but they would be a real problem for everyone else out West.

For a group with nothing left to prove on their own, chasing one more title together is the kind of story the NBA lives for.