Warriors' LeBron Pursuit: High Stakes, Tight Budget

0:00It's March 3rd. Here's your NBA news in two minutes. Subscribe to Stay Locked in all season. The Golden State Warriors made a push for LeBron James at the 2024 trade deadline, but it fell through. Now, reports say they are still very interested in landing the Lakers star. Stephen Curry and Dre Mondgrain plan to heavily recruit him as soon as free agency opens this summer. The team could offer James the non-tax pair mid-level exception, worth about $15.1 million. That is one of the few ways they can add him since bigger deals are off the table for most teams right now. It would put them right up against the salary cap limits. Fans and analysts are buzzing about what a Warriors lineup with James might look like. Curry leads with over $62 million on the books, and adding James would commit around $164 million to just eight players. Keeping Core Guys gets tricky under the hard cap of about $210 million. To make room, the Warriors might ask Green to pass on his $27.7 million player option.

1:00They hope he takes a two-year deal instead, maybe starting at $18 million, freeing up cash for vets like Al Horford or Kristaz Porzingison. Cheap contracts. This Chase Shell's Golden State is not giving up on another title run. With James at $39, every move counts, and filling out the roster with five open spots in limited funds will test their front office this, off season. The Daily News Now is presented by our sponsor, Your Pillow, Your Podcast, Your Moment, Made for Listening in Bed, S-O-L-I, solelypillow.com