The chances of LeBron James finishing his career away from the Los Angeles Lakers continue to rise, and one of the NBA’s most prominent voices believes Golden State could be a team to watch.
“Before we get to Giannis, LeBron, what happened with that is great,” Simmons said on his channel. “This is very exciting because the Warriors are really playing now, like really. I feel like if I had to bet my life on the team, I would think I would bet on them.”
Although Simmons did not report any inside information, his comments added fuel to the speculation that has followed James and the Warriors for years. The potential relationship between LeBron James and Stephen Curry has long been considered one of the league’s biggest scenarios, especially after the two enjoyed success with Team USA under Warriors head coach Steve Kerr.
The Lakers remain firmly in the picture, however.
“I’m going to watch Golden State,” ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said on the Pat McAfee Show. “He played with Steph Curry and Steve Kerr in the Olympics. He knows he’s close with Draymond Green.”
Windhorst also estimated that there is a 51 percent chance that James will remain with the Lakers, although he identified Golden State as the biggest threat if the four-time NBA champion decides to leave Los Angeles.
Any move will come with significant financial hurdles. The Warriors already have huge contracts tied to Curry and Jimmy Butler, making it difficult to add another star without a major overhaul of the system.
James is not expected to take a significant discount to make the move. Any team hoping to sign him would likely need to present a compelling win opportunity while also finding a way to satisfy their salary expectations.
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