The 2024 Paris Olympics provided a glimpse of just what two of the greatest modern NBA players are capable of when on the same team! Both Stephen Curry and LeBron James emerged as the lead scorers for Team USA on their path to securing the gold medal. While the former consistently maintained a proper average, the latter took the lead during the Semi-Finals and Finals, bringing the roster out of a rut on both occasions and securing the 1st place. Having witnessed this team up probably after more than a decade of anticipation, Nick Wright now wishes for it to be a reality in the NBA as well.
In a recent segment of First Things First, the 39-year-old television personality highlighted how, just like the ‘Dream Team’ and the ‘Redeem Team’, LeBron James is dubbing the 2024 Olympics squad ‘The Avengers.’ In light of this, Wright proceeded to talk about a future scenario that he had proposed before, a LeBron James-Stephen Curry NBA team-up. Wondering how it can occur? The analyst has it all worked out.
“I understand it’s not going to happen, but just so everyone knows, cap-wise, it could. It gets LeBron, and Steph, and Wemby (Victor Wembanyama) all together, and the Lakers get Keldon Johnson and some decent picks,” said Wright. “The Warriors get Devin Vassel, and some excellent picks.”
Wright’s proposal involves sending both LeBron and Steph to the San Antonio Spurs. Through the deal, all future first-round picks would be unprotected, while the two scorers would team up with silver medalist Victor Wembanyama and former Warriors star Chris Paul. While this trade would transform the Spurs once again into a championship contender, the Lakers and Warriors won’t allow it, and for good reason.
With LeBron James signing a two-year extension recently and his son Bronny also joining the franchise as a rookie, it’s hard for him to leave the Los Angeles Lakers now. Furthermore, even if LeBron wanted to join up with the Spurs, Stephen Curry could not. Ever since he played his first game with the Warriors in 2009, Steph has established himself as the face of the franchise. After Klay Thompson’s exit, the Warriors would make it their mission to keep the Chef with themselves.
In another scenario that could unite LeBron-Curry, Jeanie Buss and other members of the Lakers management would take the initiative and negotiate with two of its Western Conference (WC) rivals, the Golden State Warriors and the Spurs. However, a separate set of troubles will arise here. With a salary cap of $204,435,643 for the 2024-25 season, the Lakers have crossed the Second Apron limit, making them liable to heavy fines and severe penalties. Stephen Curry, who is signed on under a 4 year, $215.353 million contract, is set to earn $55.76 million next season. Taking in Curry under these circumstances would cost the Lakers heavily.
The Olympics pairing up LeBron and Curry was a scenario that both individuals welcomed. LBJ was particularly happy about it, as he stated “It’s pretty amazing that we’re at this point of our careers and we’re able to showcase our talent and do what we love to do and give a little bit back to the fans. So, it’s an absolute treat to play with one of the greatest to ever play this game.”
The Warriors have tried to acquire the services of LeBron before and if they had gone a little further in their reported attempt, we might have seen LBJ and Steph play together in the NBA as well.
The Golden State Warriors attempted to acquire LeBron James before the trade deadline
Back in February 2024, renowned ESPN journalists Adrian Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelburne released a report after the conclusion of the trade deadline. According to it, the Warriors made a last-minute push to acquire LeBron James. The discussion about it was no out-of-whim matter, since teams’ owners, general managers, and players from both the franchises were a part of it. The Warriors even went as far as to make Draymond Green, a close friend of the All-Time NBA scorer, appeal about the benefits of the trade.
Unfortunately, it was too good to be true. According to the report, “The answer was returned resoundingly on the eve of the trade deadline: Paul told Lacob and Warriors GM Mike Dunleavy Jr., that James had no interest in a trade and wanted to remain a Laker.” The 39-year-old himself rejected the offer, assuring that he was not looking for any other home than the Lakers.