Sources – Warriors made bid for LeBron James at trade deadline

During a clandestine 24-hour window before the trade deadline last Thursday that included owner-to-owner conversations, the Golden State Warriors unsuccessfully tried to convince the Los Angeles Lakers and LeBron James to consider a exchange to put him in touch with their long-time rival. Stephen Curry, sources told ESPN.

The Warriors were eager to present a deal to Los Angeles, but neither the Lakers nor James were ultimately willing to explore a potential blockbuster. Even at 39, James is still playing at an All-NBA level that has sparked the Warriors' imagination about his ability to extend the window of the franchise's fading dynasty.

Armed with encouragement from Warriors star Draymond Green, Golden State owner Joe Lacob contacted Lakers owner Jeanie Buss to see if James' public frustration could be interpreted as an opening to discuss an exchange, sources said.

Buss told Lacob that the Lakers have no desire to trade James, but that he would have to seek the answer on James' state of mind from his agent, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul, according to sources. As an owner, Buss operated with the mindset that she wanted her star players to be happy with the franchise, which prompted her to think about referring the Warriors' leadership to representing James, sources said.

If the Lakers ever wanted to check out James' commitment, this was their chance. Ultimately, the answer was resoundingly returned on the eve of the trade deadline: Rich Paul told Lacob and Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. that James had no interest in a trade and wanted to remain a Laker, according to sources. When Dunleavy contacted Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka in the hours before the trade deadline, he was told the same thing: The Lakers wanted to keep James, according to sources.

Earlier Wednesday, Green — who Paul also represents at Klutch — sent Paul a text message seeking his help in convincing James to join him at Golden State, sources said. Green had once been a lead recruiter during Kevin Durant's free agency signing with Golden State, but that was a much different, and much more futile, eleventh-hour pursuit.

Dunleavy was the second call from a team executive to Pelinka regarding a possible James trade, sources said. After seeing an hourglass's cryptic social media post a week before the trade deadline, Philadelphia 76ers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey called Pelinka to investigate a James trade and Was immediately informed that James was not available. In fact, Pelinka responded by asking Morey if Joel Embiid was available, according to sources. And that ended this brief conversation. These kinds of bold trade calls are historically standard practice for Morey, who also called the Phoenix Suns and asked about a trade for Durant before the deadline, sources said. When told no, Morey then asked about the availability of Devin Booker and Bradley Beal as well. Unsurprisingly, it was also a no, according to sources.

The back-and-forth between the Warriors and Lakers played out differently because it started at the ownership level and included Buss referring the Warriors to James' representation to verify for himself James' commitment to the Lakers.

The Warriors could revisit a pursuit this offseason when James holds a $51.4 million player option on his contract for 2024-25. If James returns to the Lakers, he will likely do so by declining that option and re-signing with Los Angeles to a new deal that would allow him an annual raise. James remains focused on returning to the Lakers this offseason, sources told ESPN, but there is no doubt that many of those same suitors – including Golden State and Philadelphia – will emerge to make their case to convince James of the opposite.

The Lakers and Warriors were held at the trade deadline. The Lakers hope to be able to improve their roster more significantly this offseason, when they will have three future first-round picks available to use in trades, sources said.

The Warriors have had extensive discussions about several trade scenarios, including with Chicago's Alex Caruso and Utah's Kelly Olynyk, sources said, but only reached a money-saving deal to move the guard Cory Joseph. Golden State faces the potential of unrestricted free agency for four-time championship guard Klay Thompson.

For now, the Lakers and Warriors are separated in the standings at ninth and tenth places in the Western Conference play-in race. For now, they'll stay on parallel tracks and abandon those last-minute conversations following trade deadline week.