Warriors Eye LeBron Signing, Davis Trade to Join Curry
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- Golden State Warriors are targeting LeBron James in free agency and Anthony Davis via trade, per Yahoo's Kevin O'Connor, aiming to unite both former Lakers stars with Stephen Curry.
- Anthony Davis would reportedly be acquired from the Washington Wizards in a deal centered on Jimmy Butler plus draft capital, though Wizards GM Will Dawkins hinted a contract extension discussion is planned for mid-August.
- Jimmy Butler is recovering from a torn ACL at age 36, and the Wizards — who just drafted AJ Dybantsa No. 1 overall — may have little use for him in a crowded young forward rotation.
- Portland Trail Blazers could pursue Davis as a Plan B if they fail to land Boston's Jaylen Brown, per Marc Stein and Jake Fischer, creating potential competition for Golden State.
- Warriors' salary structure leaves them roughly $20 million below the first apron after re-signing Al Horford, with Draymond Green's $27.7 million player option and plans to retain Kristaps Porziņģis further limiting flexibility to offer James a meaningful deal.
- Golden State previously tried to trade for LeBron in 2024 and was linked to Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kawhi Leonard at recent trade deadlines, continuing their pattern of pursuing star talent to pair with the aging Curry.
Why it matters: The Warriors face a stacked obstacle course: Washington's reluctance to move Davis, a Portland rival also in pursuit, a Wizards frontcourt logjam that makes Butler a tough sell, and Golden State's own cap crunch with only 10 players under contract and a hard cap triggered by the mid-level exception.
