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    $15.1M MLE Could Lure LeBron James Into Blockbuster Pairing With Stephen Curry

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    The Golden State Warriors have been floated anew as a potential destination for LA Lakers star LeBron James.

    James is coming off his NBA-record 23rd season and will be an unrestricted free agent this season. Many have speculated that the league’s all-time leading scorer would leave Los Angeles to try to chase another championship elsewhere.

    There have been rumors about James landing in Golden State to team up with Steph Curry. According to The San Francisco Standard’s Tim Kawakami on Monday, this scenario would be practical for both sides. He argued that the Lakers might elect to build a younger roster around Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.

    On the other hand, Kawakami said the Warriors could extend the $15.1 million non-taxpayer mid-level exception to James. This path would not need significant roster changes for Golden State.

    “It’s not likely, but not impossible either,” Kawakami wrote. “And it could be an extremely practical solution as the Warriors and LeBron both face the summation of a lot of things. … I think the Warriors would be a very live option. Check that: I think the process has already started and the Warriors are a live option.”

    Kawakami added that there would certainly be other teams that would express their interest in James. However, the four-time NBA champion would have a “very short list” of preferred destinations.

    ESPN analyst says LeBron James to the Warriors isn’t too ‘far-fetched’

    According to ESPN’s Tim Bontemps on May 27, LeBron James signing with the Golden State Warriors is “not as far-fetched” as it seemed. He also floated the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Miami Heat as potential destinations for James next season.

    “He could go sign with one of those teams for something other than the minimum,” Bontemps said (Timestamp: 51:15). “They have exceptions where they could sign him on those teams, just be clear. … There’s the tax mid-level, he could sign for about $15 million, about $6 million, or the minimum; those are the options.”

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    While the mid-level exception is significantly less than the $52.6 million James earned this season, this would allow him to contend for another championship.