Back-to-back NBA champion Kevin Durant appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live and was asked if he’d be excited if LeBron James could somehow join him on the Golden State Warriors to turn a superteam into, as Kimmel said, “the Harlem Globetrotters.” Durant’s response: “I just don’t think it’ll happen. I don’t want to go there. Somebody’s listening, (they’re) going to write something. I don’t know, I’ll stay on my side.”
NBA Rumor: LeBron James to Warriors?
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According to Stephen A. Smith, the three-time NBA champ will meet with the Golden State Warriors this summer. Smith even spent time on ESPN’s “First Take” detailing how James could end up in Golden State.
Stephen A. says LeBron might be meeting with your team this summer. How does that hit you? Kevin Durant: “With the Warriors? I have no clue. I mean everybody can speculate. This guy over here who works for ESPN, I’m sure he’s got a theory. I just don’t believe it. I don’t believe anything in this NBA thing until I see it.”
“LeBron is a competitor. He’s the type of guy who comes in and lays his hat on the line every night. If he went to Golden State, that would cut his competitive edge out. It would take something away from the type of player that he really is.” — Western Conference center
While there have been some reports that ran counter to the idea, LeBron James potentially signing with the Golden State Warriors this offseason remains a legitimate possibility. If LeBron wants it and the Warriors want it, who exactly is going to stop it? And during an appearance on First Take, TNT analyst and NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal said that if he were LeBron, joining the defending champs is exactly what he would do.
LeBron James would reportedly meet with the Warriors if they clear max space next summer. But LeBron also called that rumor “nonsense.” Hawks general manager and former Golden State assistant general manager Travis Schlenk, via CBS Atlanta: “I would be really, really surprised if LeBron went to Golden State. The one thing I will say about Mr. James: He is the master at using the media to get whatever story he wants out there. He’s perfected the art of the social-media game. I think that those things were probably leaked by them, by Mr. James and his camp. I don’t see a universe where that happens. It would be interesting to see. It would be interesting to see what he’d be like with the rest of those guys, with his playmaking ability and obviously with the shooting that Golden State has.”
Tyronn Lue laughed when asked about the report. Unsure of what he could or could not say without getting fined, he instead offered a simple “no comment.” The timing of the story was curious, given how close it is to the trade deadline, and theories persist about why it was planted and whether anyone from James’ tight inner circle had anything to do with it. “I don’t think it did,” he said.
Dave McMenamin: LeBron James vociferously shot down the Warriors story and said to only trust information that comes straight from his mouth regarding free agency. He said he will deal with that in the summer and his only focus is getting the Cavs back to a fourth straight Finals.
Don’t count Kevin Durant among those buying into that league-shaking scenario. When asked about the report later on Thursday, the Warriors forward literally called “bulls—” on it. Twice, in fact. However, Durant then went on to point out that “just like a couple of years ago,” when “nobody would have thought” that he himself would have wound up with the Warriors, many “crazy things have happened” since he arrived in the NBA.
Durant wasn’t the only member of the Warriors commenting on the day’s juiciest NBA story. “Fourteen years in this league, I’ve seen it all,” Shaun Livingston said (via the Mercury News). “Nothing really surprises you anymore. It’s out of left field, out of left field. But, hey, exciting for the NBA. I’m sure they like it.”
“You’re really going to ask that?” Kerr said of questions about James. “Do you want me to get my checkbook out? I could just make it out to [Commissioner] Adam Silver, or to the NBA? You know that’s illegal. I’m not answering that.”
“Before we start, I know you guys have to ask, but I can’t talk about other players on other teams,” Myers opened. “I’m not allowed to, I wouldn’t do it anyway. Ask your questions, I understand you have to do your job, too. But just to lay that out there.” “How about a hypothetical 6-foot-8 power forward?” said a voice from the back, coming from the same news anchor who had broken up the media fight minutes earlier. “Hypotheticals should be disallowed, too,” Myers said.
ESPN Cleveland: Windhorst: I don’t really think the Warriors will have cap space for LeBron. #Cavs
Melissa Rohlin: Kerr on if he’d like to coach LeBron James: “You’re really going to ask that? Do you want me to get my checkbook out? I could just make it out to Adam Silver? Or to the NBA? You know that’s illegal. I’m not answering that.”
Logan Murdock: Shaun Livingston on LeBron James report: “Nothing really surprises you anymore. It’s out of left field. It’s exciting for the NBA, I know they like it.”
.@ChrisBHaynes tells us now on @ESPNLosAngeles if these teams had a max slot LeBron James would listen to them b/c he respects them. Teams are the Warriors, Spurs, & less so the Heat (b/c he’s been there done that). Wouldn’t rule out Lakers, Cavs & Rockets. No Clippers.
LeBron James meeting with Warriors during free agency?
If the Golden State Warriors can create a max salary slot this offseason, the defending NBA champions could position themselves to secure a meeting with LeBron James, league sources told ESPN. There is no indication that Golden State is evaluating such options to acquire the Cleveland Cavaliers star at this time.
Out of respect for the Warriors’ winning culture, James would listen if Golden State explored ways to clear the necessary cap space, sources said. This offseason, James is expected to decline his $35.6 million player option and become an unrestricted free agent for the third time in his career, although re-signing with Cleveland is not out of the question.
A sign-and-trade scenario would be the most realistic way for Golden State to acquire James. The Warriors could build an offer around Klay Thompson and Andre Iguodala to match salary and tempt the Cavaliers into making a deal, according to ESPN’s Kevin Pelton. To make a sign-and-trade possible, Golden State also would need Kevin Durant to decline his player option and take even less than his current annual salary of $25 million, in addition to moving Shaun Livingston’s salary to a team with cap space. Golden State probably would have to fill out its bench with players making the league minimum.
July 1, 2022 | 2:47 am EDT Update
Bulls among the teams calling about Kevin Durant
When the two-time NBA Finals MVP made it known he wanted to be traded out of Brooklyn, expected business quickly fell by the wayside as teams tried to reposition themselves to at least make an offer. According to a source, the Bulls were a part of those phone calls, despite Durant reportedly having the Heat and Suns among his desired destinations — and despite the reality that the Bulls don’t have the type of high-profile player or quality of draft picks the Nets were looking for in a trade package.
Phoenix has the kinds of players who might make this a win-win for all involved — namely, Suns small forward Mikal Bridges and restricted free agent center DeAndre Ayton. In the days before Irving’s choice to opt-in, sources close to Ayton had raised this possibility of an Ayton-Bridges deal being very much on their radar. At that time, however, it was unclear whether Durant was going to ask out.
Nets want multiple All-Stars for Kevin Durant
I’m told the Nets want multiple All-Stars in any deal for Durant. I do not count Tyler Herro in that category, despite the year he’s had. So if you’re Miami, how do you acquire Durant?
Mike James: Must b another Mike James
Sources said the Bulls remain confident LaVine will agree to a contract of nearly $215 million — the most any team could offer — even as the two-time All-Star waits to hear all offers in the process.
Beck: I asked a well-connected NBA source which teams, other than the increasingly desperate Lakers, would be willing to acquire Irving. His answer: “None.” I think I agree. The league has seen Irving wreak a lot of havoc over the last five years, from Cleveland to Boston to Brooklyn. It’s left an impression. But the Lakers badly need another scorer/playmaker next to LeBron and AD, and Irving is an infinitely better fit than Russell Westbrook.
Sacramento continues to be mentioned in a potential John Collins trade with the Atlanta Hawks, but sources confirm that the Kings are trailing in that chase.
