Could some of the gold-medal winners from Team USA pair up in the future on an NBA team? Sam Amick of The Athletic explores that topic, noting that superstar-laden teams are sometimes born out of their bonding experiences with USA Basketball.
A LeBron James–Stephen Curry pairing seems unlikely now that LeBron’s son is on the Lakers roster and Curry would like to finish his career with the Warriors. Could Golden State eventually wind up with Durant-Curry reunion or a Devin Booker–Curry backcourt? Suns owner Mat Ishbia has squashed talk of trading his stars but Amick speculates that could change if Phoenix flops in the postseason again.
We have more USA Basketball-related news:
- If Kevin Durant wants to play for Team USA in Los Angeles, team officials would like to have him back, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst (hat tip to Zach Bachar of Bleacher Report). “I would not rule out KD playing, and I talked with Team USA officials, and they would give him a provisional yes right now,” Windhorst said on The Hoop Collective. Durant has already set the Olympic record with four gold medals in men’s basketball. Durant, who averaged 13.8 points and 3.2 rebounds in Paris off the bench, will be 39 in 2028.
- Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton hopes to retain his spot on Team USA in future Olympics, according to Scott Agness of Fieldhouse Files. He informed managing director Grant Hill that he’d welcome an invite to the Los Angeles Games. “I’ve told Grant — I’ve said it many times — I want to represent USA Basketball for as long as I can,” Haliburton said. He was essentially the 12th man on this year’s squad, averaging 8.8 minutes in three appearances. He was dealing with a minor leg injury during the tournament.
- Magic forward Paolo Banchero, a member of USA’s last World Cup team, was under serious consideration for the Paris Olympics, according to Joe Vardon of The Athletic. He’s a player Hill wants to feature in future Olympics. In the same piece, Vardon speculates which players from this year’s gold medal squad might be back for 2028.
Lebron and Bronny traded at the deadline for Wiggins and Podziemski, is almost a perfect match.
The Lakers would not do that. Try Kuminga,Moody, Wiggins, plus draft capital. They’re trading half of their merch sales in this trade, while simultaneously making GS a finals contender for 2-3 years, in the same conference as them.
@gilderc2000 That trade is pretty fair, although GSW probably could add in a draft pick or two. Have you not seen the “Bron effect” on other teams? He leaves them all being forced to tear it all down and start over once he gets the urge to play somewhere else. That is going to be the Lakers very soon.
Steph is a 1-teamer, he isn’t, therefore Bron to GSW where he can play with his BFF Draymond and Steph and win another 2-3 titles before Bron retires.
Don’t be surprised if Curry is the one to move, especially after these olympics. Play with Draymond anchoring your defense (and distracting the whole team) or Anthony Davis? Not a hard decision.
That is funny since the lakers do not have anyone the warriors would want. None of their young players have performed well.
Yeah Anthony Davis is glass and tall. I’d take the real champion and enforcer and long time friend, Draymond. If you take Davis or Draymond you should watch a different sport.
AD just won Curry his first gold medal. “The real champion” was home on the couch combing in some Just For Men. Times change. Sorry but it’s just inevitable.
lakers will need to win with what they have. There is not much tradeable on their team. AD was not the MVP.
@Lil D
Wrong: Steph is retiring a 1-teamer and Draymond is Lebrons best friend in the NBA. Bron is salivating thinking about how much fun those 3 uncs would have, destroying all the young stars on their way to more rings…
I gave facts, you gave opinions. Lil dunker can’t stop dunking. Next!
lakers would never trade wit the warriors since they are rivals.
I don’t think the lakers see it that way. The lakers rivals are the Celtics and clippers. Maybe warriors fans see it as an extension of the giants dodgers rivalry?
One of the rules in sports do not trade within your division unless you are in a complete rebuild. Lebron is the Lakers money maker knowing with him on the team he puts butts in the seats.
Davey. You are absolutely delusional.
@Nrg82. You are absolutely breaking TOS when you disrespect me instead of proving why I am wrong. Either Mute me, or show why I am wrong, or leave me alone.
I would mute you but that doesn’t do anything around here because it doesn’t mute the person from seeing your posts, you only cant see theirs. Regardless, look into muting me if you hate my posts.
Schooled you with facts multiple times, you refused to acknowledge said facts. Carry on with your delusional takes, it’s quite funny and amusing.
It would be Kuminga, looney, GP2, and whoever else can fill the salary. Lakers don’t want Wiggins and warriors won’t trade a guard for a wing. Curry and James are the most likely to play together. Both have talked about how awesome it would be, and LeBron has no real ties to the lakers.
No real ties? He just had his son drafted to the Lakers to play with him, lol.
His son would clearly be a part of the trade. Lebron wasn’t drafted by the lakers, isn’t from LA, and won his least consequential and least impressive championship* with the lakers. If he played for the Cavs or maybe even the heat you could say he had ties. His son will play wherever he does.
What trade?
It’s only August and the delusional laker.Fans are predicting trades
More the media pushing it since there is not much else to report for the next month until preseason. All the teams but Pistons have money to spend.
Ja Morant/Anthony Edwards/AJ Dybantsa/Zion Williamson/Bam Adebayo starting with Tyrese Haliburton, Jalen Green, Brandon Miller, Scottie Barnes, Paolo Banchero, Jaren Jackson Jr, Evan Mobley off bench…. This team should go undefeated in LA in 2028, especially if most of these guys are available to play together in the World Cup in Qatar in a few yrs. Haliburton over Cade & Jaren Jr over Chet were both tough decisions but there’s always gonna be tough cuts when there’s only 12 spots… link to m.youtube.com
You lost me at AJ Dybantsa starting.