Ex-Heat Player Says He Has a "Gut Feeling" LeBron James Is Signing With the Warriors

A Stephen Curry-LeBron James pairing is something many fans have dreamed of. In 2024, when they suited up together for Team USA in Paris, they even spoke about the possibility of teaming up in the NBA. So, when LeBron revealed he would not sign with the Lakers for the 2026-27 season, even murmurs of a Warriors move for him generated plenty of buzz. And James’ former teammate has a good feeling about that possibility.

That former teammate is Mario Chalmers, who won two championships alongside James with the Miami Heat. He drew on his knowledge of James as the basis for believing it could happen.

"I really think it's between Golden State and Miami just by knowing Bron and being his teammate before and the way he approaches the game," Chalmers said as per Clutch Points reporter DJ Siddiqi.

"Those are two spots where I think he has the best chance of winning," he continued. "I want to say Miami, but I have a gut feeling that it might be Golden State."

Interestingly, the Heat are considered to be in a much better position. They recently acquired Giannis Antetokounmpo via trade. With him and Bam Adebayo in the frontcourt, the team already has the star power to be a legitimate contender. While they lost a lot of depth in the Antetokounmpo deal, the Heat front office can now focus on building around its two stars.

That process has already begun, with Tim Hardaway Jr. expected to sign with the team once the moratorium ends.

Additionally, head coach Erik Spoelstra is well known for getting the most out of his players. Players who struggle elsewhere often thrive in his system.

Meanwhile, the Warriors’ roster hasn’t improved much, and they’re running out of options to strengthen it ahead of next season.

Where Would LeBron James Fit With the Golden State Warriors?

Together, LeBron James and Stephen Curry could be a formidable duo. That is, if Curry, now 38 years old, remains healthy throughout next season.

Over the past few years, the Golden State Warriors’ offense has consistently stalled whenever Stephen Curry hasn’t been on the court. Since he missed significant time last season with patellofemoral pain syndrome, everyone got to see just how ineffective the offense was without him. With Curry, the Warriors posted a 118.2 offensive rating, sixth in the league. Without the Chef, that number dropped to 105.2, ranking among the bottom three in the NBA.

The assumption was that James would bring in some much-needed firepower to supplement what Curry brings. However, just the two of them is not enough.

James can assume the role of ballhandler while Curry creates space by moving off the ball outside the arc. Curry can also take on the ball-handling duties while James takes some of the attention away from him just by simply being involved in the play.

Of course, just the two won't be enough to elevate the team into playoff contention.

They’d need another reliable go-to scorer to ease the pressure on Curry and James. They also need players who can stay healthy and effectively fill in when the two stars head to the bench for a breather.

Given how the roster is currently constructed, they still don’t have those pieces.

Yes, Jimmy Butler is on the team, but there’s no telling when he’ll return from his ACL tear. And while the Warriors have been linked with a move for Anthony Davis, the Washington Wizards appear unlikely to part ways with the star center unless they’re offered a massive return.

At the moment, the Warriors are dealing with several roster issues that could ultimately prevent them from signing James.