Many people seem to expect LeBron James to play for the Los Angeles Lakers or the Cleveland Cavaliers next season. But according to multiple reports, the Golden State Warriors loom as a dark horse candidate to land the four-time MVP.
James is good friends with both Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, and the Warriors, after a fairly disastrous 2025-26 season, seem almost desperate to make a big move that would pry their championship window open for at least one more year. With the Lakers lacking the depth to be true title contenders, the Warriors could present James with a real shot at his fifth championship ring — if he were to take a massive pay cut to join them.
NBA analyst Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report predicted where a number of prominent free agents will land this summer. He predicted that James will head up Highway 101 and team up with Curry and Green on the Warriors.
“The Los Angeles Lakers face a significant decision with James,” Pincus wrote. “Even as he nears 42, he continues to be one of the most powerful players in the association.
“Still, building properly long-term around [Luka] Dončić is the priority. The Lakers have high hopes to take a step forward this summer, and that’s without James. If their plans fail, that could lead to one more season with the future Hall of Famer.
“… A sign-and-trade from the Lakers would require a three-year deal and trigger apron restrictions. The chance to finish his career in Golden State with Curry will be James’ path forward.”
Pincus’ exact prediction is that James will accept the non-taxpayer mid-level exception and sign for $30.8 million over two years, with the second year of the deal being a player option.
If this were to happen, expect James’ critics to yet again accuse him of wanting to massively stack the deck in his favor, just as they feel he did when he joined Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh on the Miami Heat in 2010 and teamed up with an ascendent Kyrie Irving and a young Kevin Love in Cleveland in 2014.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Analyst predicts LeBron James will leave Lakers to join Stephen Curry
Reporting by Robert Marvi, LeBron Wire / LeBron Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Robert Marvi, LeBron Wire | USA TODAY Network
