Warriors Focused On Signing LeBron James; Trade For Anthony Davis Seems Unlikely
It appears the Warriors are focused just on signing LeBron James in free agency rather than working out a trade for Anthony Davis as well, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said Tuesday morning on Get Up (YouTube link). Windhorst indicated there has been no progress in talks with the Wizards on a deal that would bring a fourth star to Golden State.
“Right now, I’m taking the Anthony Davis thing off the front burner,” Windhorst said. “I do not have data that says that’s likely to happen. Now, my information could change, but I do not see traction from the Wizards to want to do that. The Warriors told Jimmy Butler they’re not trading him. I think the focus right now is: Can they get LeBron James away from the Los Angeles Lakers? That’s something they’re going to try to get done today. Whether or not they can pull it off, let’s wait and watch.”
Speculation that the Warriors might try to form a veteran super-team erupted Monday after Draymond Green‘s surprise decision to decline his $27.7MM player option for the upcoming season. That gave the team more financial flexibility to fit in James with its $15MM non-taxpayer mid-level exception and possibly trade for Davis as well.
However, Monday’s agreement to re-sign Kristaps Porzingis to a two-year, $40MM deal complicates the situation somewhat. Golden State now has to unload some salary to have access to the full NTMLE, with Moses Moody viewed as the most likely candidate. Otherwise, the Warriors will likely be limited to the $6.1MM taxpayer MLE, which is much less enticing for James.
Appearing with Windhorst on Get Up, ESPN’s Tim MacMahon said the reports of Golden State’s interest in Davis seemed dubious from the start.
“I understand maximizing your chances to compete during the twilight of Steph Curry, but a trade for AD, that’s going beyond the twilight,” MacMahon said. “Because, look, number one you’re probably giving up some kind of draft compensation … but more than anything, why does AD want to be traded? Because the Wizards are saying, hey, wait, we don’t want to give you an extension right now. Anthony Davis is owed $120MM over the next two years and wants a max or near-max extension off of that. To be committed to max money to AD when Steph Curry is riding off into the sunset would make zero sense for the Golden State Warriors.”
Davis is owed $58.5MM in 2026/27 and holds a $62.8MM player option for the following season. He was limited to 20 games this year and didn’t play at all after being traded to Washington in February.
Warriors Rumors: LeBron, Davis, Butler, Draymond
While little is known about LeBron James‘ plans for free agency, the Warriors are “far and away” the Lakers superstar’s “most interested external suitor,” according to Marc Stein and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Substack link).
There has been some reporting indicating that Golden State may try to trade for Wizards big man Anthony Davis to further enhance their chances of signing James using the non-taxpayer mid-level exception, but the team hasn’t been acting as though the former championship teammates are some sort of package deal, sources tell The Stein Line.
According to Stein and Fischer, the Warriors continue to signal behind the scenes that they’re reluctant to trade Jimmy Butler, who would have to be sent out to acquire Davis for salary-matching purposes. General manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. and head coach Steve Kerr both have strong relationships with Butler, the authors observe.
“I don’t want to get into a constant cycle of responding to this stuff,” Butler’s agent Bernie Lee told ESPN on Monday. “But I will say the Warriors — from ownership to the front office to the coaches and medical staff — have been resolute in their plan to support Jimmy through his rehab. … That remains true today as I respond to you.”
Draymond Green declining his $27.7MM player option added fuel to the Davis chatter. The former Defensive Player of the Year won’t be going anywhere: Stein and Fischer report that Green is expected to re-sign with the Warriors on a new multiyear contract once the team figures out its other roster moves.
More On Warriors’ Interest In Anthony Davis, LeBron James
Word of the Warriors‘ apparent interest in Wizards big man Anthony Davis first surfaced on Sunday night and was advanced on Monday when Draymond Green declined his $27.7MM player option for 2026/27, signaling that the team is looking into finding a way to acquire both Davis and star forward LeBron James.
According to Anthony Slater of ESPN, Warriors team sources have said for weeks that they expect James to remain in Los Angeles, but with LeBron having not yet engaged seriously in contract discussions with the Lakers, Golden State believes that door may have opened a crack.
Whether or not their pursuit of Davis goes anywhere, the Warriors have the flexibility to offer James the full non-taxpayer mid-level exception, which is expected to start at just above $15MM. However, according to Slater’s sources, the Warriors believe the prospect of acquiring Davis, James’ former Lakers teammate and good friend, would significantly strengthen their pitch to the four-time MVP.
As RealGM relays, ESPN’s Shams Charania suggested during an appearance on SportsCenter that Davis and James might have to be a “package deal” to end up in Golden State — in other words, the Warriors may be unlikely to acquire one if they can’t get the other.
There’s also said to be some league-wide skepticism about whether the Warriors actually have a serious chance to land Davis and James to team up with Green and Stephen Curry or whether Klutch Sports’ Rich Paul – who represents all three players – is just looking to get all of them paid by their current teams.
“The people in the league that I’m talking to today are giving me the side-eye, and they’re going, ‘This is going to end up with Draymond Green getting a new contract in Golden State, LeBron getting a new contract in Los Angeles, and Anthony Davis getting a new contract in Washington,'” ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said on The Rich Eisen Show (Twitter video link). “… So, I’m not saying I know, but part of this could be creating leverage for AD and LeBron in both Washington and L.A. And then everybody gets paid on a contract. Or they could all end up in Golden State. I’m not sure which it’s going to be.”
Here’s more on AD and LeBron:
- With the Warriors emerging as a real threat for James, the Lakers are expected to engage with the 41-year-old forward in conversations about his future sooner rather than later, says NBA insider Chris Haynes (Twitter link).
- According to RealGM, Windhorst said during Monday’s episode of Get Up on ESPN that Paul met with the Wizards on Sunday to discuss Davis’ future. “I’m sure that Anthony Davis could be given a contract that would make him very happy to be in Washington,” Windhorst said, pointing out the Wizards have already committed to Trae Young on a four-year, $212MM contract. “Maybe the Wizards are prepared to do that. The Wizards want to win immediately.”
- John Hollinger of The Athletic examines the cap machinations that would be necessary for the Warriors to acquire Davis and James, suggesting that there may not be a path for Kristaps Porzingis to re-sign with Golden State if the team were to pull off landing the former Lakers stars.
- If Davis were traded to Golden State, Jimmy Butler would have to be the outgoing piece for salary-matching purposes. Asked about that possibility, Butler’s agent Bernie Lee told Slater (Twitter link) that the Warriors have maintained they’re not looking to trade his client. “I don’t want to get into a constant cycle of responding to this stuff,” Lee said. “But I will say the Warriors — from ownership to the front office to the coaches and medical staff — have been resolute in their plan to support Jimmy through his rehab. … That remains true today as I respond to you.”
Warriors Eyeing Anthony Davis?
The Warriors’ interest in adding LeBron James in free agency is the league’s worst-kept secret, but it would appear their ambitions don’t end with landing the 41-year-old four-time MVP.
Golden State is also pursuing Wizards big man Anthony Davis in the hopes of reuniting the championship-winning duo in the Bay Area, Kevin O’Connor reports for Yahoo Sports.
Such a deal would require the inclusion of the injured Jimmy Butler for salary-matching purposes, and presumably some form of draft compensation as well.
The Wizards have previously expressed their desire to retain Davis, whom they landed at the trade deadline, as they look to work their way back up the Eastern Conference standings. Swapping the star big man for Butler, who is not expected to return to the court until the middle of winter as he recovers from ACL surgery, could be seen as taking a step back in the short term, despite Davis’ own injury concerns.
A third team could be included in the deal to provide a landing spot for Butler and more win-now pieces for the Wizards, O’Connor speculates. Butler has said that his preference would be to play out the rest of his career in Golden State, as he has strong respect for the organization and star Stephen Curry.
Davis will become extension-eligible in August. It’s unclear how willing the Warriors would be to consider a long-term extension for the talented but oft-injured big man, given Curry’s age.
Both James and Davis are expected to have their share of suitors on the free agency and trade markets, respectively, this summer, which could complicate the Warriors’ efforts to put together a star-studded, veteran super-team around franchise cornerstones Draymond Green and Curry.
Jimmy Butler Discusses Recovery From ACL Surgery, Hopes To Stay With Warriors
It will likely be sometime in the middle of winter before Jimmy Butler gets back on an NBA court, but he’s confident that he’ll still be able to make an impact whenever that happens, writes Anthony Slater of ESPN. More than four months have elapsed since Butler underwent ACL reconstruction surgery on his right knee, and he’s pleased with the recovery process so far.
“I’m right back to who I’ve always been,” he said. “Probably better if we was to really talk about it. I know I’m still going to be a top player whenever I get back. I have a couple good years left in me, and we’re going to ride it until the wheels fall off.”
Although he’ll turn 37 in September and is entering the final year of his contract, Butler isn’t giving much thought to retirement. However, he told Slater that whenever the time comes, he wants to finish his career with the Warriors.
“End is a bad word, but this is where I want to be done,” Butler said. “Retire here. This organization is top-tier. It’s the best. Keep it a buck. It’s the best. You’re playing with one of the greatest players ever. I’m grateful to be able to witness this. I want to be able to do my part, get this organization back on top where we belong.”
Butler is hoping to make an extended playoff run with Golden State, something he hasn’t gotten the chance to do since he was acquired from Miami at the 2025 trade deadline. His ACL injury derailed an already difficult season, and the Warriors fell to Phoenix in the play-in tournament after surprising the Clippers in the first game.
A year ago, Stephen Curry got injured in the second round against Minnesota, taking away any chance Golden State had to win that series.
“It just sucks because we ain’t never really been healthy together,” Butler said. “Part of winning is being healthy. You ain’t seen us healthy at the end in the playoffs when it matters. Let’s be healthy and then all of that [doubting] can be heard.”
Butler is hoping to return to action as soon as possible, but Slater states that sometime in February — 12 months from the time of the injury — is probably most realistic. He notes that director of medicine Rick Celebrini has a reputation for being cautious with veterans in the late stage of rehab, and it took De’Anthony Melton a full year to return from his ACL tear this season.
Butler reiterated to Slater that he’s about six weeks away from being able to run at full speed, and he still can’t land on his right leg with his full weight after jumping. Several months of rehab work lie ahead, and Butler will have numerous boxes to check before a return date can be considered.
Butler, who’ll become extension-eligible on February 6, shortly before the 2027 trade deadline, also addressed the possibility of being moved. The Warriors made inquiries before this year’s deadline on deals that might have needed his contract to be completed, and the team is reported to be exploring similar opportunities now.
“You talking about being traded?” Butler said. “It wouldn’t be the first time. [But] it’s good to know that I’m wanted here. If I get traded, I get traded. Their job is to win. Can I help them do that? Yes. If they feel like somebody else can help them do that on a quicker timetable than whenever I come back, then they got to go and do that, but as of right now, I’m here. I don’t take that for granted. I’m grateful, but if I’m going to be here whenever I get back, we’re going to be just fine.”
Warriors Notes: Butler, Lendeborg, Horford, Jersey Logo
Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. believes Jimmy Butler can still play at a high level when he returns from a torn ACL, Kevin Borba of NBC Sports Bay Area writes.
“I do think when Jimmy returns, depending on his load that he can carry the amount of minutes, I do think he’ll be a very good player based on the way he plays,” Dunleavy said. “The two best things about him are his mind and his physicality, and you don’t lose that with a hurt knee.”
Butler, 36, was averaging 20.0 points, 5.6 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game prior to the injury. Butler suffered the injury in a January 19 contest.
Here’s more on the Warriors:
- Head coach Steve Kerr doesn’t usually rely heavily on first-year players, but lottery pick Yaxel Lendeborg expects to receive sufficient playing time right off the bat, according to Tristi Rodriguez of NBC Sports Bay Area. “He doesn’t normally play rookies as much. He has a history of that. But the way the team is looking right now, I’m going to have a really good chance to play, maybe even start,” Lendeborg said. “So, just having that hope definitely gives me extra motivation to go out there and be one of the new guys that actually does that, actually comes in and builds a reputation right away.”
- Kerr subtly lobbied for Lendeborg during draft discussions, according to Nick Avila of NBC Sports Bay Area. “Our group asked him a couple days before the draft, ‘What’s the biggest need when you look at our roster?’” Dunleavy said. “And he said, ‘There’s a huge gap in the middle of it with our forward position. We need a guy that can fit in there and connect the game.’”
- Bringing Al Horford back on a relatively short-term deal is a win for the Warriors, though it comes with some risks, Dalton Johnson of NBC Sports Bay Area opines. They still must find ways to keep getting younger and more athletic, Johnson notes, and Horford will become the first Warriors player to appear in a game at 40 years old. Horford is signing a two-year, $14MM deal after declining his player option.
- The Warriors have signed a deal with AI cloud provider Iren for the company’s logo to be on the team’s jersey starting next season. According to Kurt Badenhausen of Sportico.com, the agreement is worth more than $50MM per year, the richest sponsorship deal in the history of North American team sports.
Pacific Notes: Butler, Reaves, Peat, Ngoy
Appearing on Thursday at a Warriors event to announce their new jersey patch sponsor, star wing Jimmy Butler provided an update on his recovery from last season’s right ACL tear, according to Nick Friedell of The Athletic. Butler told reporters that he’s “making some incredibly progress” and is “very happy” with how the process has played out so far, adding that he’s about a month and a half away from starting to run.
“There are things that I used to be able to do that I can’t do right now,” Butler said. “I actually can dunk a basketball if I jump off my left leg — I just can’t land on my right. I haven’t tried it, but I’m pretty sure I can still dunk a basketball.”
Butler also had nothing but praise for the way the Warriors operate, suggesting he has no desire to leave Golden State. The 36-year-old is entering the final year of his current contract but will become extension-eligible on February 6.
“It’s not good, it’s great,” Butler said of the Warriors’ organization. “Legitimately, it’s the best. You don’t realize it until you’ve been in other places, and I’m not talking down on anybody that are like quite lesser than. You’re talking about the way that you all run everything, the people that you have around.
“Obviously, the guys that get to rep the uniform, they just do everything the right way, the winning way. It definitely shows in everything that we do here. I’m grateful to be a part of it now. When I say I don’t want to be anywhere else, this is it.”
We have more from around the Pacific:
- After agreeing to terms on a four-year, maximum-salary deal with the Lakers, Austin Reaves admitted to Dan Woike of The Athletic that a “couple of times” during the process he wasn’t sure if he’d re-sign with Los Angeles. He was thrilled to get a deal done with the only NBA team he has ever played for. “I mean, it was a breath of fresh air because I hadn’t stopped thinking about where I was going to be. And it’s just like a sigh of relief,” Reaves told Woike. “I mean, regardless of whatever played out, I’m obviously grateful and in a good position to take care of the people I love. My heart’s been in L.A. Every morning I (woke) up, I (was) just like, ‘I hope we can get this done today.'”
- No. 30 overall pick Koa Peat isn’t a can’t-miss prospect and likely won’t be a day-one contributor, but he’ll represent a good test of the Suns‘ ability to develop young talent, writes Doug Haller of The Athletic. Given that Phoenix doesn’t have a ton of star power or the draft picks necessary to add elite young talent, player development has to be the team’s top skill as it looks to return to contention, says Haller. Suns general manager Brian Gregory cited Peat’s high character, competitiveness, ability to attack the rim, and winning pedigree as reasons why the club wanted him.
- Count French big man Narcisse Ngoy among those surprised he was selected in the second round of this week’s draft. According to Law Murray of The Athletic (Twitter links), the No. 57 pick wasn’t expected to be drafted by the Clippers or any other team and still expects to play for the Auburn Tigers next season. Murray says the Clippers’ front office has been in touch with Ngoy and the two sides are discussing their plans. As Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress explains (via Twitter), a recent NCAA rule change would allow Ngoy to play for Auburn and essentially function as a domestic draft-and-stash, since he was automatically draft-eligible this year (rather than declaring as an early entrant) and has college eligibility remaining.
Pacific Notes: Pelinka, Kings Workouts, Suns Workouts, Butler
The playoff sweep by Oklahoma City convinced the Lakers that they need to add more talent and depth to their roster, Benjamin Royer of The Orange County Register writes in a subscriber-only piece. General manager Rob Pelinka was especially struck by the development of Ajay Mitchell, a second-round pick in 2024 who started his career on a two-way contract and averaged 22.5 PPG in the series against L.A.
“There’s ways to add to your roster if you commit to doing the hard work and commit to the process of adding the right pieces,” Pelinka said at his end-of-season press conference last week. “We’ll be doing that through the draft and free agency and through trades. We’ve got to find a way to have a roster that will compete with any team in the NBA.”
Pelinka added that the Lakers, who hold the 25th pick this year, plan to bring in more than 20 players for pre-draft workouts with an emphasis on finding more depth, athleticism and youth. He stated that competitiveness and basketball IQ will also be prioritized, noting that player development has become more important than ever with the current salary structure.
There’s more from the Pacific Division:
- The Kings were focused on their second-round picks at No. 34 and 45 when they held their first pre-draft workout on Friday, per Jason Anderson of The Sacramento Bee (subscription required). Taking part were Houston shooting guard Emanuel Sharp, Duke center Maliq Brown, Auburn power forward Keyshawn Hall, Louisville shooting guard Isaac McKneely, Grand Canyon small forward Jaden Henley and Xavier power forward Tre Carroll, who are all projected to be taken the second round or go undrafted. Sharp talked to reporters about what he can offer an NBA team (Twitter video link from Michelle Dapper of KCRA).
- Florida State point guard Robert McCray has worked out for the Suns, according to John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 (Twitter link). Louisville guard Ryan Conwell and St. John’s forward Bryce Hopkins are scheduled to visit Phoenix next week, Gambadoro adds (Twitter link).
- The Warriors‘ Jimmy Butler may not return to the court until after mid-season, but he was able to entertain at the BottleRock Napa Valley Music Festival on Friday (Instagram video), relays Kalan Hooks of ESPN. Butler, who underwent ACL reconstruction surgery in February, performed a few songs while jumping around the stage. “Don’t show this to (coach) Steve (Kerr); I got a torn ACL,” he told the crowd.
Warriors Notes: Green, Porzingis, Horford, Butler, Moody, Dunleavy
In a session with the media on Friday, Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. said he’s talked to Draymond Green about remaining with the team, but “the ball is in his court,” writes Nick Friedell of The Athletic. Green holds a $27.7MM player option for next season, with a decision due by June 29. He can pick up the option, use it to negotiate a longer contract, or turn it down and test the free agent market.
“I think we have had discussions where we want him to finish his career (as) a Warrior,” Dunleavy said. “He kind of feels the same way. I would expect him to be back, but it’s his call on that.”
Green, 36, has spent his entire 14-year career with Golden State after being selected with the 35th pick in 2012. He was named Defensive Player of the Year in 2017, has earned four All-Star appearances, and played a vital role on four championship teams.
Coach Steve Kerr also expressed hope that Green will decide to remain with the Warriors.
“The number one thing is, it’s up to him,” Kerr said. “He has the player option, so he has to go through that with his agent, how that plays out. I am committed to coaching him, coaching Steph (Curry), obviously, for as long as they’re here. I look at them as collaborators, and what we’ve built is pretty special.”
There’s more on the Warriors:
- Dunleavy and Kerr are also optimistic about having Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford on the roster next season, Friedell adds. Porzingis, who was acquired from Atlanta at the trade deadline, is an unrestricted free agent and Dunleavy said negotiations on a new deal will begin soon. Horford signed with Golden State last summer and has a decision to make on a player option worth nearly $6MM. “Those are guys that we definitely would love to have back,” Dunleavy said. “They had some really good performances this year with us. They add an element to our team that we haven’t had in the past.”
- Dunleavy also offered minor medical updates on Jimmy Butler (torn ACL) and Moses Moody (ruptured patellar tendon), per Friedell. He said both players are making progress with rehab, but it’s still too early to say when they might return next season.
- Dunleavy’s rosy view of the team’s current status could either be viewed as “delusional” or “shrewd deception,” contends Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area. The GM cited turnovers as a serious problem this season while adding, “I don’t think we came up short because of the talent on the roster. It was injuries and things we could control.” Poole points out that the Warriors were in the midst of a mediocre campaign before it was derailed by injuries to Butler and Curry, and they won just 10 of their last 32 games.
Injury Notes: Doncic, Heat, Allen, Hunter, Butler
Lakers star Luka Doncic is scheduled to return to the United States and rejoin his team on Friday, reports Melissa Rohlin of the California Post.
Doncic, who suffered a Grade 2 left hamstring strain on April 2, had been in Spain receiving treatment on the injury in the hopes of accelerating his recovery timeline. According to Dave McMenamin and Shams Charania of ESPN, the All-Star guard has received multiple injections during his time overseas.
Although Doncic will be reporting back to the Lakers, his status going forward remains up in the air. Typically, a Grade 2 hamstring strain requires a recovery period of approximately a month, and Los Angeles won’t want to be cavalier about its franchise player’s health. Still, Doncic is pushing to return as quickly as he can and the team hasn’t offered any updates on his status since ruling him out for the regular season earlier this month.
We have more health updates from around the NBA:
- Heat guard Dru Smith (right big toe sprain / right foot soreness) and Nikola Jovic (left ankle sprain) have been ruled out for Tuesday’s play-in game in Charlotte, but forward Pelle Larsson expects to be available despite being listed as questionable due to a right lower leg contusion, per Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald.
- Suns wing Grayson Allen has been listed as questionable for Tuesday’s play-in game vs. Portland, with head coach Jordan Ott referring to him as “day-to-day,” according to Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic. Allen, who is dealing with left hamstring soreness, missed Sunday’s regular season finale. It sounds like his availability will be determined closer to tip-off.
- Kings forward De’Andre Hunter said he has made a “complete and successful recovery” from the eye injury that ended his season, tweets James Ham of The Kings Beat. Hunter underwent surgery on his left eye just after the All-Star break due to a detached retina. Although Sacramento’s season is over, the the 28-year-old has been cleared for basketball activities and should be able to go through his usual offseason routine.
- While Jimmy Butler‘s recovery from ACL surgery figures to extend well into the 2026/27 season, he’s making progress, according to Anthony Slater of ESPN (Twitter link), who notes that the Warriors swingman is no longer using crutches.