LeBron James to the Warriors isn't just noise — it could really happen, and here's how

LeBron James is about to hit free agency, and the entire basketball world is watching.

Will he stay with the Los Angeles Lakers? Will he return home to the Cleveland Cavaliers? Could he join Steph Curry with the Golden State Warriors?

It's that third possibility that has gained some new intel on Thursday.

NBC Sports Bay Area shared a quote from an anonymous source that makes it sound like a legitimate potential outcome.

“I know it seems crazy,” the source told NBC Sports Bay Area about James going to the Warriors. “But there is at least curiosity on both sides. This wouldn’t even be a conversation five or six years ago, and it might not happen now, but there’s enough there that we shouldn’t ignore the possibility. It’s mostly up to LeBron.”

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To agree with the obvious sentiment there: Of course it's up to LeBron.

Yes, if the Warriors didn't want him, then he wouldn't have a spot there. But the Warriors are still rostering Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green. They aren't exactly getting any younger.

Adding King James would be taking one final swing at a championship push with that core before moving on.

Golden State can only offer up to the non-taxpayer midlevel exception, which would earn James a salary of about $15 million in 2026-27.

James could make a lot more elsewhere from teams with legit salary cap space, so that's one variable that isn't working in the Warriors' favor.

There's also the matter of James' son Bronny, who still has a couple years left on his Lakers contract. Would he want the Warriors to trade for Bronny? And would Golden State and Los Angeles come to an agreement in that circumstance?

As far as fit, basketball fans would be quite intrigued to watch James and Curry play together. It'd be appointment viewing.

So the fact that this is even a possibility is exciting. There'll be a lot of rumors still to come, but James to the Warriors appears to be in play.

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