James’ name has come up in trade rumors in the past few days – so many that his agent, Rich Paul, told ESPN on Friday that the King “won’t be traded, and we won’t ask to be.”

With respect to Paul, a Curry and James partnership would be clutch. NBA narratives have become tiresome, whether it’s folks complaining about the lack of defense or ranting about load management. Putting Curry and James on the same team doesn’t just give the NBA a profoundly positive headline. It represents a cultural reset.

Of course they were destined to play together: They were born in the same hospital. In a lot of ways, they are the modern-day Earvin “Magic” Johnson of the Los Angeles Lakers and Larry Bird of the Boston Celtics, saviors of the league who transitioned into global ambassadors of basketball. Magic and Bird’s swan song was their presence on the 1992 Dream Team.

A James and Curry collaboration would be a dream. In his 21st season, James is averaging 25-7-7 on 58.6% from the field and 39.7% from 3-point range. Curry, in his 15th campaign, is averaging 25-4-5 on 45-40-95 splits. Imagine Curry and James finally using their talents collaboratively – two playmakers who understand spacing and situation, with Curry’s unlimited range combined with James’ timeless versatility.

What matters more than their stats is their cultural impact. They are impeccable both on and off the floor, exceptional family men with remarkable branding. A Curry-James pairing would dominate the media and demand the spotlight for weeks. The NBA trade deadline is Thursday, three days before the Super Bowl. Imagine the news of Curry going to the Lakers or James to the Warriors hitting practically hours before the big game. It would be a response to the NFL’s encroachment into the NBA’s Christmas Day games.

I can understand where folks might be sticklers on the specifics of a trade. The Warriors are in salary cap hell and currently don’t have any first-round picks in the 2024 draft. Their moves over the past few years are reflective of a franchise willing to mortgage the future to hang onto the memories of the past. Where Curry has been relatively patient with management, largely because they’ve kept their championship core, James has been historically impatient around the trade deadline, and offered a cryptic hourglass emoji on social media this week.

That didn’t stop me from completing a proposal in the NBA trade machine that sends James to the Golden State Warriors. The Lakers would get Klay Thompson, Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody, Brandin Podziemski, Trayce Jackson-Davis and Usman Garuba. In return, the Warriors would get James and D’Angelo Russell. Save for Thompson and his expiring contract, the pieces matter less than the principle. The Lakers would be looking to rebuild and the Warriors would be looking to pry open their window to contend.

For the Lakers, they get a starter, or perhaps even a star, in Kuminga. Moody, Podziemski and Jackson-Davis are solid pros. Golden State, which has struggled with the balance between retaining its championship core and integrating young talent, would finally solidify its commitment to the vets. Management essentially chose Draymond Green over Jordan Poole, even after the infamous punch at practice in October 2022. Except for Thompson going to Los Angeles — because you can’t spell Klay without L-A — Golden State would have four future (and aging) Hall of Famers on the roster with Curry, James, Green and Chris Paul.

Chief among the Warriors’ concerns is playing out Curry’s extended prime. Imagine adding James’ seemingly ageless talents to the mix. As much as it would hurt to break up Curry and Thompson, the Splash Brothers, combining the Hall of Fame talents for a compelling run or two at a ring would be worth it.