According to information from Ramona Shelburne and Adrian Wojnarowski, from North American ESPN, this Wednesday (14), the Golden State Warriors contacted the Los Angeles Lakers and LeBron James’ agent, Rich Paul, in order to to know the star’s availability for a trade to the San Francisco franchise.
According to Shelburne and Woj, Warriors owner Joe Lacob contacted Jeanie Buss, Lakers owner, in order to question an opening to negotiate the star, which Buss denied. However, the owner of the franchise told Lacob to speak to Paul in order to clarify the star’s position on whether he would remain with the Lakers or want to discuss a change of scenery.
In the end, Paul confirmed LeBron’s lack of interest in leaving the Lakers, the same response that Mike Dunleavy Jr., general manager of the Warriors, got from Lakers GM Rob Pelinka on the same day, earlier. The Lakers had no interest in trading LeBron nor did the star want to leave the franchise, according to information from the duo on ESPN.
The person who also “entered” the negotiation was Draymond Green, also a client and friend of Paul, to whom the Warriors veteran sent messages the day before the trade deadline to ask for help in convincing LeBron to go to the Warriors.
LeBron has a player option worth US$51.4 million for the 2024/2025 season and has not yet indicated his plans. At the trade deadline, both Lakers and Warriors were completely discreet, with the first property, while the second only traded Cory Joseph in order to save money.
The Lakers and Warriors are stuck in the Western Conference table, in ninth and tenth, respectively, separated by just one game.