Warriors could acquire four-time NBA champion Lakers forward this summer, per writer

The Golden State Warriors shouldn’t feel great about their chances of reaching the Western Conference finals.

With Curry nursing a Grade 1 hamstring strain and taking his time to recover fully, the organization is headed toward a second-round exit. 

Could the Warriors acquire a four-time NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers forward to improve their 2025-26 title odds? Sports Illustrated’s Alex Kirschenbaum believes so. 

"(LeBron) James has long been linked to Golden State, in part because his rivalry against Warriors stars Stephen Curry and Draymond Green (they've played each other in five playoff series, during which James has gone 2-3) eventually blossomed into a bromance,” Kirschenbaum wrote Friday.

"James would give his old rivals some major frontcourt size, although a core of James, 37-year-old Curry, 35-year-old Jimmy Butler, and 34-year-old Green would be so old that their survival through four playoff rounds would come into question.”

"Just this season, James, Curry, and Butler all suffered major injuries during the playoffs.”

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In 2022, Curry stated that ‘he was good’ when asked about potentially teaming up with James in the Bay. 

However, the sentiment may differ this summer, with both superstars wanting to end their careers with a bang and possessing skill sets that would make them an unstoppable duo. 

James and Curry have faced each other in the NBA finals four times, with the latter boasting a 3-1 advantage. 

If the Warriors fall short in the postseason and don’t love their roster entering free agency, James, who has a $52.6 million player option and didn’t advance past the first round of the playoffs with the Lakers this year, could be a game-changing target for them this summer. 

Of course, it all depends on how the 21-time All-Star feels in the upcoming months. 

James’ commitment to making things work with Luka Doncic in Los Angeles and proving the pair can win a title while competing in the toughest conference in the NBA would make it virtually impossible for the Warriors to land him. 

Still, it’s fun to picture James in a Golden State uniform in his early 40s.

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