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Well, that was fun, wasn't it? It almost seems like we have been conditioned to hate either Steph Curry or Lebron James over the course of the past decade. After four straight dramatic clashes in the NBA Finals, they seem destined to be each other arch-villains until the end of time. The two are posed against each other in an almost Larry vs Magic-esque ballet.
One is the silent assassin, the master of subtle trash talk, a pure mix of shooting and basketball IQ. The other is a physically dominant Frankenstein of power forward and point guard, freakishly big and fast with undeniable touch and preternatural vision.
And this past weekend, LeBron and Steph were able to play with one another for the very first time. And it was glorious:
How beautiful is that? How unfair is that? It's like if Karl Malone and John Stockton were back, only both can be primary ball handlers, and Stockton is better at shooting. Doesn't that sound fun? It sure looked like fun: Lebron James whipping no-looks to Steph for logo 3's, Curry turning around and shimmying before dapping up the King, both finally smiling and laughing with, instead of at, each other.
Seems a shame to keep these two apart, really.
Of course, it sounds crazy. More likely than not, the relationship between Steph Curry and Lebron James is complicated at best from nearly half a decade of direct adversarial combat, with another few years tacked on if both stay healthy and relatively close to their athletic primes going into the 2020's.
But it's Monday. The All-Star glow has only just started to fade, and we're all enjoying ourselves. So before we get back to hating each other and everything once more, let's try to get these two kids together, shall we?
Trade #1:
Warriors receive: Dennis Schroder, Anthony Davis, Kyle Kuzma, Lakers 2023 1st Round Pick
Lakers receive: Steph Curry, James Wiseman
Okay, think on this a little bit. Now sure, the Lakers are all in on Anthony Davis as the heir apparent to the vacant Lakers big man throne. And his talent is absolutely world-class. The only downside is that his legs are made out of matchsticks. If you are the Lakers and you're Rob Pellinka and the rest of the brass, are you really going to trust your post-Lebron James future to Anthony Davis?
The King, entering into his late 30's, is still more durable and reliable than AD. Who knows how long he'll take to retire, and when he does, who knows how many more years Davis has left on his prime before injuries catch up to him. Moreover, who knows how far an older AD without a primary ball-handler or perimeter threat at Lebron's level can lead a team. Well, we might know that last thing to a degree, as it is exactly what happened with him and the Pelicans before he left for Los Angeles. The Lakers are nothing if not splashy. They don't tread water.
Instead, give Lebron James his best perimeter fit ever, and a big man who brings both youth and energy, and is young enough to be molded by the King. You still have your offensive stopgaps in Harrell and Gasol, and a surefire sparkplug off the bench in Alex Caruso, not to mention great support pieces in KCP and Wesley Matthews. All you are losing with AD and Kyle Kuzma is uncertainty.
And on the Warriors' side of things, why not capitalize on Steph Curry's heightened trade value to see ahead of the curve? Your medical staff must be top-notch if you feel comfortable holding onto Klay Thompson, and they already have a track record of successful rehab and rejuvenation. Just look at what stints in Golden State did for Andre Iguodala and Shaun Livingston.
And even in the case of your generational star, you fixed his ankles to the point where he has been largely injury-free throughout the 2010s! And of course, fans might riot in the streets if you let go of Steph Curry. But won't they shut up quickly once AD and Draymond finally lead the strongest Warriors defense this side of 2016, once Klay Thompson makes a triumphant return with more space on the outside than he's ever had? Bob Myers made his money on predicting greatness just before it happens. Look at how fans rioted when he let go of Monta Ellis, how they sneered at him reneging on taking Kevin Love in exchange for Klay. He has a chance to give Golden State a brand new shot in the arm and reload in a way he hasn't been able to do in years.
Trade #2:
Warriors receive: Lebron James, Montrezl Harrell, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
Lakers receive: Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, Marquese Chriss, Jordan Poole, Warriors 2024 1st Round Pick
Woof. Ok, so this one is basically just a reshuffle and a weird one at that. But hear me out on this one too: take the Warriors right now, but sub out Draymond Green for Lebron James and Montrezl Harrell on offense. If that team doesn't make the Finals this year and next, the players simply didn't try hard enough.
Literally just sub out Klay's injuries and Draymond's lack of athleticism with, like, everything that Lebron has, and partner it with Steph, Oubre Jr., and a bunch of bouncy big men, and you have a championship contender for at least the next three years. Not to mention that at least one of KCP, Wiggins, or Oubre is guaranteed to catch fire on any given night.
And if you're the Lakers, you still get to keep your big man of the future and a borderline All-Star in Dennis Schroder, but you get a couple of decent insurance policies and trade chips, plus two secondary playmakers, possibly primary in the form of Draymond Green.
In short, light the world on fire if you need to. If Snoop Dogg and Martha Stewart can be the best of friends, it is positively criminal to keep a pairing like Lebron James and Steph Curry apart. It's been too long for us to even allow for the possibility, and it's here!? Make it happen, Bob and Rob. For the culture.
