NBC Sports’ Jamal Crawford: Why LeBron Would be a Great Fit for the Warriors

If LeBron James decides to leave the Los Angeles Lakers, NBC Sports' Jamal Crawford has a destination in mind. Golden State.

Crawford joined the show after the Thunder swept the Lakers. The first question Rich asked was whether LeBron is done in LA, done period, or staying put.

"I don't think he's done period," Crawford said. "He's such a big icon that I think he'll say it early enough where he can really enjoy going in every city knowing it's his last time."

The harder question is the LA part.

"If it's his last year in LA, that's a little bit different," Crawford said. "Part of the last part of fun, even though it's frustrating, was that he was back being the number one option. Like he said last night, I've been accustomed to that. I've been that my whole life. For him being a quote unquote third option the whole year, and maybe not sliding down even further than that if they're going to get even better to try to compete for a championship, I'm not sure he's on board with that."

The comp Crawford reached for is unique.

"Rich, we've never seen something like this for somebody to dominate this," Crawford said. "Have you seen something like this at this point?"

Rich went to Tom Brady.

"Brady won rings playing as a 40-year-old," Rich said.

The contrast for LeBron is sharper. Luka in street clothes for the last two weeks of the season. A team that looked like a championship contender in March. A hamstring that wrecked it.

"LeBron's got to sit there, Jamal, and go, if I stay put here, I'm assuming he gets to still play with his son, which is a major impetus," Rich said.

Then Rich asked the destination question. If LeBron looks over the steering wheel, where does he see a better spot?

Crawford did not hesitate.

"Golden State," Crawford said.

The fit, in his framing, is the same one Jimmy Butler unlocked.

"I think for him, he staggers what they do well," Crawford said. "I think that's what Jimmy Butler made what made them dangerous with Jimmy Butler in the playoffs because he had all this shooting. He had all these people that can move around and give space to let him do his one-on-one thing that he needed to do in the playoffs when the game slowed down."

The Warriors' system has an IQ floor.

"I've always said for years, especially when they were in their championship run, you can't play in Golden State if you don't have a high basketball IQ because it's such read and reacts and making the right reads and the ball not sticking," Crawford said.

The role, in his framing, is one LeBron could fill.

"I think LeBron can kind of fill that role of playing that style and still, you know, his IQ," Crawford said. "I think in the playoffs, Jimmy was going to definitely help Steph. Even the first year, Steph was so excited. I remember talking to him in person and I was in New York after the trade happened, and he was like, oh my gosh, he loved the addition of Jimmy Butler. I think LeBron can give a version of that."

He invited Rich to keep the prediction on tape.

"If I'm right, you got to play it all the time, Rich," Crawford said. "Like all the time."

Rich's shot was different.

"My shot is he stays put here," Rich said. "I think he stays."

The secondary, if LeBron leaves LA.

"Cleveland," Rich said.

Crawford liked it.

"Full circle going home again," Crawford said. "Joining a team that, as we saw last night, the way it is constructed, if he goes home, he's not the guy. He can be the guy if necessary. And it's a full circle moment."

The handshake landed.

"I'll take the Eastern Conference," Crawford said. "You took the West. We got this thing covered."