NBA Free Agency 2018: 5 offseason targets for the Golden State Warriors

OAKLAND, CA - MAY 31: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers controls the ball against Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors in Game 1 of the 2018 NBA Finals at ORACLE Arena on May 31, 2018 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

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CLEVELAND, OH – JUNE 8: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers handles the ball against Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors during Game Four of the 2018 NBA Finals on June 8, 2018 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) /

1. LeBron James

This would likely take one of two extremes to work. Either LeBron James would have to take a significant paycut to sign with the Warriors in free agency or Golden State would have to break up the core that has carried them to fourth straight NBA Finals and won them three championships to complete a sign-and-trade with the Cavaliers.

In which case, would the Warriors consider parting ways with Klay Thompson and Draymond Green to acquire LeBron? And would LeBron want to be on a team that has taken him out in three of the last four NBA Finals? The answer to both questions is probably not, and yet, based on what happened with Kevin Durant two years ago, nothing can be swept under the rug when the Warriors are involved.

For the Warriors, not only would making a move for LeBron raise their ceiling — just imagine what Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant and LeBron would be capable of in Steve Kerr’s system, even with a limited supporting cast surrounding them — it would prevent the best basketball player in the world from joining a team that could compete with them with a four-time MVP on their side.

For LeBron, playing for the Warriors would be the closest guarantee he’s going to get to winning multiple championships down the final stretch of his NBA career. If he’s focused entirely on getting as many rings as Michael Jordan, it might make all the scrutiny he’d almost certainly face in joining a team coming off of back-to-back championships in dominant fashion worth it.

Next: FanSided Network 2018 NBA Mock Draft

Again, it’s far more likely not to happen than it is to happen, but would you be surprised if the Warriors had one more trick up their sleeve?

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