Don't sign LeBron James

The Warriors and magical thinking

Hi. Quick question for the Warriors.

WTF?

You’re chasing after LeBron James like he’s your prom date. We’re getting breathless updates about how the Dubs are definitely in the discussion. It might just happen, we’re told.

Why?

You know he’s 42 right?

You know the general consensus is that this will be his last year?

So it is entirely possible that you could spend next year hosting a farewell tour for King James. You think that’s what Warriors’ fans want?

Well, you say, he’s bringing numbers. You say he may be heading into his 24th NBA season, but he still averaged 20.9 pts, 6.1 rebounds and shot 31.7 from beyond three-point range.

Yep. All true. And those are all the lowest numbers for those stats since he joined the Lakers for the 2018-19 season.

He’s not trending up.

But first, let’s get this out of the way.

He DESERVES it.

I was actually a bit of a LeBron skeptic back in the day. Seemed like he was just running over guys. Also, he came across as very pleased with himself. The “Chosen One” tattoo across his back seemed a little on the nose.

But I was wrong. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. James is a pillar of the game. Seriously. A Mt. Rushmore candidate with the likes of Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and the Warriors’ own Steph Curry. He’s not only got a refined all-around game (although still big and strong), he’s smart on the court.

And, he’s gotten much better at presenting his public image.

Also, not for nothing, there have been no big LeBron James scandals. Married since 2013.

Is he a good family man? Are you kidding? He even got his kid hired down at the plant.

So no LeBron hater here.

But this seems like such a sideways, borderline panic quest.

We get the idea. The premise is this:

The Warriors are not putting together a team. They’ve got their core, Steph and Draymond Green. They surround them with the Brandin Podziemski’s and Gui Santos’ of the world.

But they need one more thing . . . a big splash star.

Hello Jimmy Butler.

Butler was a risk with his two-year, $110 million contract. And he’s definitely had some issues. He came to Golden State from Miami, where things had gotten so ugly the team suspended him “for conduct detrimental to the team.”

But Butler worked out for the Dubs. At least until his knee surgery knocked him out for the final 44 games of last season and at least some of this one.

So that’s the formula. They think all they need is one big impact guy and then they start trying on championship rings.

They aren’t going to build a team. They are going to buy a team.

We just didn’t expect them to be shopping at the antique store.

We sighed when they signed 40-year-old Al Horford to a two-year contract, although he is already been declared out for any back-to-back games. And we nod along with those who remind us that Draymond is 36 and Steph is 38.

There was a little wince when they signed much-traveled (six teams in 10 years) Kristaps Porzingis to a two-year deal. Porzingis, who is frequently injured or ill, is 30.

And LeBron is older than any of them.

Let’s remember, James does not go quietly into that good night. The whole roadshow comes with him.

He is accorded royal treatment in the NBA and he expects nothing less. He will definitely have a public voice and will not hold back in expressing opinions.

He famously has treated coaching decisions as suggestions.

Interviewed by The Sporting Green in January, Lakers’ coach J.J. Redick confirmed James ignores him and runs his own plays.

“Sometimes he tells me to f-off, and he calls his own pitch, which is fine too. But to me, it really is [figuring out] what’s the best way to utilize him tonight based on the opponent, based on the coverage, and based on how he’s moving.”

So factor that in for coach Steve Kerr, who has made it clear he has firm opinions about how things should be done.

And speaking of suggestions, James always has lots of them. He’s orchestrated trades and nudged coaches aside. Way back in 2016 this ESPN story was speculating if James was a “coach killer.”

What we’re seeing now, with James’ agent Rich Paul holding press availabilities where he holds up a white board with the names of ten teams that “might” have a chance to sign James, is all part of the package.

James loves the spectacle of announcing where he is “taking my talents” next.

Oh also, you might have to hire his son Bronny, who appears to have improved all the way to mediocre.

Look, Warriors. You do you.

Go ahead and sign him. Who knows, by the time this is out, you may have already done so.

But you’re starting to look a little desperate.

Contact C.W. Nevius at cwnevius@gmail.com. Threads and Twitter: @cwnevius