The Golden State Warriors’ reported attempt to acquire Los Angeles Lakers superstar Lebron James prior to the NBA trade deadline earlier this month was reportedly orchestrated by owner Joe Lacob.

According to ESPN’s Baxter Holmes, Lacob consulted with forward Draymond Green prior to the inquiry, and although he was rebuffed, the interest Lacob showed in James was born from his “desire to keep the team competitive” during what Holmes calls a “critical phase.”

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelburne first reported on the Warriors’ bid for James, noting that Lakers owner Jeanie Buss, general manager Rob Pelinka and James himself all spurned the idea of a trade.

This article will be updated soon to provide more information and analysis.