The Golden State Warriors apparently had an ambitious plan to bring LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Stephen Curry together, but their attempts failed before securing the services of Jimmy Butler.
According to an NBA source who talked with Hoops Wire, the Warriors aggressively considered acquiring both superstars before eventually signing Jimmy Butler.
While audacious, the plan quickly ran into insurmountable obstacles. Durant, content in Phoenix, had no intention of leaving, while LeBron James, protected by a no-trade clause and settled in Los Angeles, showed no interest in joining Golden State.
With James and Durant unwilling to move, the Warriors were compelled to shift their focus. ESPN insiders Ramona Shelburne and Brian Windhorst detailed the behind-the-scenes discussions: “It was a lot to digest. So Durant and Curry discussed the idea on Saturday, hours before the poker tournament. Curry wanted to get a read on how Durant would feel about returning to the team he’d chosen to leave after the 2019 Finals, sources said.”
“Durant told him that it didn’t ‘feel right’ and that this ‘wasn’t the time’ to revisit their basketball partnership, according to multiple sources with knowledge of the conversations. He was happy in Phoenix and wasn’t looking to play elsewhere.” Shelburne and Windhorst reported.
“It was a soft ‘no,’ one that discouraged the Warriors’ decision-makers but didn’t fully deter them from pursuing talks with the Suns. They hoped Durant’s feelings about a reunion might change once he learned the extent to which Phoenix had engaged in trade conversations with multiple teams without involving him.” Shelburne and Windhorst added.