How Rich Paul Stopped a Potential LeBron James Trade to the Warriors Last Season

Last season, there was much discussion about a possible sensational move that would have sent LeBron James to the Golden State Warriors, according to respected NBA analyst Marc Stein.

Stein revealed that the talks had progressed to direct talks between Warriors majority owner Joe Lacob and the Los Angeles Lakers’ Jeanie Buss. James’s close associate Draymond Green reportedly said the NBA veteran would consider a move north.

However, those discussions were abruptly cut short. Rich Paul, LeBron James’ longtime representative, was adamantly opposed to the move. According to Stein, Paul was concerned about the negative repercussions of another team change by James, which would be his fourth team change.

“Sources indicate that Paul was adamant that both teams abandon the idea…primarily to protect James from the public backlash that could follow,” Stein reported in a story that appeared on Sunday (via Bleacher Report).

ESPN previously noted that before the midseason NBA trade deadline in February, the Warriors had begun a push to secure James. However, the proposal received little interest from the Lakers. When Lacob reached out to Buss, she referred him to Paul, who emphatically rejected the idea, saying his primary client was not interested in a trade.

Draymond Green, who shares Paul as an agent with James, wrote to Paul to gauge James’ interest in joining the Warriors, but was quickly dismissed. A similar trade proposal from the Philadelphia 76ers met the same fate, ESPN reported.

Meanwhile, LeBron James teamed up with Warriors icon Steph Curry this summer for Team USA, leading to another Olympic gold medal in men’s basketball at the 2024 Paris Games. James, who served as the U.S. flag bearer during the opening ceremonies, was a key player throughout the tournament and nearly led the scoring, only slightly behind Curry’s standout performance.

With his NBA future seemingly secure after the Lakers drafted his son, LeBron “Bronny” James Jr., LeBron is poised to make history by playing alongside his son, marking an NBA first for a father-son duo on the same team.