Warriors sources confirm to Sam Amick, Anthony Slater and Jovan Buha of The Athletic that Golden State made an unsuccessful run at Lakers superstar LeBron James prior to last week’s trade deadline. However, there’s “zero indication” the Warriors came close to acquiring James, per The Athletic’s report.
Still, the fact that Golden State tried to pry James out of L.A. shows the Warriors are willing to take big swings to try and capitalize on Stephen Curry‘s still-excellent form, despite his advancing age (he turns 36 next month). And it opened the door to a possible pursuit again this summer, when James could hit unrestricted free agency if he declines his $51.4MM player option.
According to The Athletic, James won’t be the only marquee player the Warriors will explore going after, assuming they’re even available. Their “dream scenario” would be trading for Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, with Clippers wing Paul George and Suns forward Kevin Durant among the other star wings on their wish list.
Antetokounmpo has only ever played for Milwaukee and signed a long-term extension before the season began that has him under contract through at least 2027, with a player option for 2027/28. George holds a $48.8MM player option for ’24/25 and has openly said he hopes to sign an extension with the Clippers (he’d have to decline the PO to sign an extension). Durant, who won back-to-back titles with Golden State in 2017 and 2018, could hit free agency in 2026.
The emergence of Jonathan Kuminga — whom GM Mike Dunleavy Jr. called “virtually” untouchable after the deadline — has given the Warriors an internal pathway to a possible star running mate for Curry. He’ll be eligible for a rookie scale extension this summer. Depending on what route Golden State takes, Kuminga could also be an enticing headliner in a blockbuster trade, The Athletic’s authors note.
As Amick, Slater and Buha write, only one of the Warriors’ future first-round picks (2030) is tied up in a trade beyond this year’s draft, and the team will have some financial flexibility as well, with Klay Thompson on an expiring $43.2MM contract and Chris Paul on a pseudo-expiring deal (his $30MM salary for ’24/25 is non-guaranteed).
If the warriors don’t offer Kuminga for a star player they are not going after thatstar player very hard.
Likely just offering a boat load of draft picks. If they gut the team it doesn’t actually help them. They want to add, which is hard to do and probably why they stood pat at the deadline.
Also only some stars make sense with the team. Like Dame, Jrue, Kyrie, and Brunson are some of the better players to change teams lately but none would be a fit in GS. Your looking for a premium 5 or a big wing that can knock down catch and shoot 3s.
Yeah salary plus picks would be the deal. I think they could trade 3 plus 4 swaps after this draft. You have to do the 2030 that they already traded 20-30 as a 1-19 and then since your on even years 26/28 as the other traded ones and you could do swaps in 25/27/29/31 as soon as the new league year starts. Other than the heavily protected pick in 30 they own their own picks all the way out after this draft.
they owe Washington a protected 1st round pick from the Poole trade.
The article is pretty clear in stating that JK would be the centerpiece along with draft picks.
For Giannis yes. Not for LBJ when if he wants out, he just tells them trade me where I want to go or I opt out and go somewhere else. It really depends on the star wing and the contract theyre on.
Article ? You think they read the article ha !
Yeah can’t see how a 16 PER, negative rated defensive player is untouchable
23.5ppg/6.2rpg/1.1spg with a .587/.438 slash over the last 13.
A 16 per… he’s 21, and playing very well. That’s untouchable, unless they can trade for a LeBron obviously
I thought the Lakers were the only team that dreams this hard.
Story seems like a plant to me. Probably worried about the fans revolting like they have with the Giants across the street. Warriors want one of the top players in the league… yeah so does every other team. Warrior fanbase are t exactly the most knowledgeable.
Giants fans have revolted? Hardly. Just because a couple of guys get bitchy doesn’t mean there is a revolt.
check the season ticket sales numbers. There aren’t peasants in the streets with pitchforks, but people are saying “no thanks, maybe I’ll take in a game if you’re any good.” Boring roster, empty downtown, $15 beer, an out of touch owner, and an emphasis on real estate over baseball will do that to you. Oh, and did a mention a useless farm system.
Is this story about someone’s fantasy team? It is 100% hopes and dreams without ways and means.
Kuminga and Picks is not enough to land any of those. Only if you can convince PG to leave and do a sign and trade where you give him the max.
Kuminga’s break out is very very very legit
He has legitimate potential to be a top ten player in this league.
Hes only 21 and has developed almost zero basketball skills yet.
Look what hes doing on raw talent alone.
Hes like a cross between vince carter and giannis.
Seriously, go take a closer look at his play the past 2 months
If any true star became available there would be a lot better offers for him than anything the warriors could put together.
Is this a fantasy story? Seems like it to me.
What the hell are the Warriors smoking? Targets include Giannis, KD, and PG? HOW IN THE WORLD?!?
Did you notice the RUMORS part of the title of this site? They do that for a good reason. 99% of this stuff never happens. Every team explores possibilities.
So you go ahead and give me a trade that makes sense where the Warriors land one of the three guys mentioned. Stop being a homer for 5 seconds and use your brain. No team with those players has “explored the possibility” of trading their best player on their contending team for Warriors scraps. Scraps that are clinging to a 10 seed.
It’s actually crazy, I heard the Wizards were looking to add either Luka or Shai this offseason. If neither of those deals work out I’ve heard they view Jayson Tatum or Nikola Jokic as pivot moves.
Kuminga as a centrepiece in a trade.
Thats how they view him.
They should pursue Markkanen. He’s allegedly grown frustrated with Jazz ownership and FO after Danny Ainge lied to him before the season about aiming for the playoffs but subsequently kneecapped the team at the trade deadline for the second year in a row, in order to tank for Utah’s top-10-protected 2024 draft pick.
A lot of you are really sleeping on kuminga.
This is a very very very very legit breakout.
2 years from now he’ll be the consensus best athlete in sports or some similar hyperbole
We may be sleeping but you are wet dreaming, “consensus best athlete in sports in 2 years from now”, must be the most ridiculous statement ever
They want to take advantage of Steph Curry’s advanc8ng age by trad8ng for the oldest player in the league, that Steph straight up said he didn’t want to play with. But also to get it, they made Kumminga so unavailable that he would be rhe only trade chip that would net a young superstar, because he’s in line for a raise he hasn’t gotten yet.
This site has been on a slow decline recently, but this article just sp2d that up hard.
There’s always Heavy on, Larry Brown or 247 sports, I you are looking for alternative sports information.
And who’s gonna send a star to them to get Wiggins and picks in return? We know they won’t deal Kuminga and rightfully so.
You honestly don’t think they’d move him for Giannis or KD? I can see not doing it for LeBron (age, supposed refusal to be anywhere that won’t draft his kid, etc), but seriously not even for either of those 2 guys..?
Would bucks accept that though? I get y’all want warriors to constantly dominate. I like them too but every dynasty ends sometime…
Warriors need to be below the tax this year, desperately. That would save them millions and millions of repeating tax offenders and this year they can achieve it and still be competitive at least. That starts with two easy choices: the first is obvious, let Chris Paul go and second the most difficult; part ways with Klay, a franchise legend but in clear decay. Without those two contracts they will have 30 mill of room under the tax. Movement number 3 is to trade Wiggins for 2 or 3 good role players to fill the roster nicely and then get a star in free agency with those 30 mill available while keeping Kuminga
Some of you are really sleeping on kuminga.
From the ages of 18-21 he went to the university of dub.
This is his true rookie season.
Hes a 21 year old vince carter – giannis hybrid.
He is still a very raw player.
Wait until he develops the muscle memory and real basketball skills.
He has legit top 10 player potential.