During a conversation with Draymond Green on the ‘7PM in Brooklyn’ podcast, NBA icon Carmelo Anthony explained why LeBron James would not work with the modern-day Golden State Warriors. To the surprise of Draymond and other spectators, Anthony refuted that they would be able to win the title together had James been traded to the team in early February.

“You’ve got to have tremendous cahones to pick up the phone and say that… but I don’t think they win the championship. I don’t believe so, because guess what? “If LeBron is going to Golden State, you have to build another team,” Anthony stated. “He out of there, Klay is gone, he can’t stay!” “It’ll be them two and Kuminga.”

There was speculation that LeBron James will team up with Stephen Curry this season. Before the deadline, the Warriors and Lakers briefly explored the possibility of trading LeBron, and the NBA world erupted with comments. Unfortunately, a settlement was never reached, and both parties maintained their teams intact. But Anthony now claims this was a good thing for Golden State.

While the Warriors would have had incredible top-tier talent in James and Curry, it would have come at a high cost… one that Carmelo believes would be too much for them to bear. With LeBron’s earnings exceeding $47 million this season, the Lakers would have had to deal a player like Klay Thompson, a franchise great and fan favourite in the community, just to equal salary. At the absolute least, it would have cost them Andrew Wiggins and other young players who were key to their title run years before. 

In the end, LeBron and the Lakers backed out of the contract, avoiding a union that may have altered the course of NBA history. According to Carmelo Anthony, it was a pivotal moment that saved the Warriors and extended their window by keeping their depth in the form of young players such as Brandin Podziemski, Jonathan Kuminga, and Trayce Jackson-Davis.

The Golden State Warriors plan to continue their pursuit of LeBron James.

For years, the mere suggestion of dealing LeBron James was considered a serious offence, but the idea has become considerably more acceptable in recent weeks. As the Lakers have plummeted further in the standings, LeBron James’ need to find a winning situation has grown.

And, while Rich Paul may have blocked a Warriors trade this time, who’s to say the outcome will be any different this summer? With Klay heading to free agency, the Warriors might use some of his salary money to make a hefty offer to King James. Alternatively, they may select his kid, Bronny, in the future draft to entice LeBron to come to town.

Regardless of the approach, the Warriors’ interest in LeBron is undeniable, and sources indicate that they will continue to pursue him this summer. Even at 39 years old, James remains a formidable force on the basketball court, and he is the only person who can ensure that Stephen Curry’s last years are spent on a team capable of competing for a championship.