At one level through the 2023-24 NBA season, the prospect of the Los Angeles Lakers buying and selling celebrity ahead LeBron James to the Golden State Warriors appeared like one thing that would come to fruition earlier than the NBA commerce deadline in February.
Though it appears unparalleled that James would get traded throughout his Corridor-of-Fame-caliber profession, the Lakers gave the impression to be going nowhere regardless of having him and fellow celebrity Anthony Davis wholesome and productive.
The Warriors gave the impression to be in the identical place because the once-dominant workforce within the Bay Space couldn’t put it collectively, despite the fact that they added one other future Corridor of Famer to the roster in veteran level guard Chris Paul.
Sadly for Golden State, James’ agent, Wealthy Paul of Klutch Sports activities, did what he may to ensure the deal by no means got here to fruition, as he believed it might be dangerous for his shut buddy and shopper when it comes to legacy, in accordance to NBA insider Marc Stein by way of Legion Hoops.
REPORT: Wealthy Paul reportedly “implored the Warriors and Lakers to scrap the idea” of buying and selling LeBron James to the Warriors final season, “largely because he wanted to insulate James from potential backlash over switching teams for the 4th time in his career.”
(by way of @TheSteinLine) pic.twitter.com/aobh6xugf4
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) August 18, 2024
As simply essentially the most criticized celebrity within the NBA at this time and maybe ever, James and his illustration have been extraordinarily tactical within the strikes made within the twilight of his profession within the league, because the objective appears to be to go down as one of the best ever to do it within the NBA.
Satirically sufficient, the Lakers made strikes over the course of the summer time that gave the impression to be directed by Paul and Klutch Sports activities, with the workforce hiring James’ buddy JJ Redick because the workforce’s new head coach and choosing his son Bronny James within the 2024 NBA Draft.
Getting traded to the Warriors might haven’t been good optics, however the identical might be mentioned about these strikes.
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