The Golden State Warriors are big-game hunting once again this offseason, and that could include bringing both LeBron James and Anthony Davis to the Bay Area.
James is hitting free agency on July 1, and while Davis is under contract with the Washington Wizards, the Wizards would like to move him to get out from under his salary.
Enter the Warriors, who are entering the final stages of their run with Stephen Curry and Draymond Green and will absolutely need to make some significant additions to compete with the top teams in the Western Conference next season.
Acquiring both James and Davis would go a long way in helping them do that, except there is one problem: Golden State would almost certainly have to trade Jimmy Butler to make that happen, and the Dubs do not appear enamored with that possibility.
NBA insiders Marc Stein and Jake Fischer have reported that Warriors brass — including head coach Steve Kerr — has a great relationship with Butler, which could make the team reluctant to jettison the six-time All-Star as he recovers from a torn ACL.
In order for Golden State to take on Davis and his $58.4 million salary for 2026-27, including Butler ($56.7 million) in the trade package seems like an absolute must.
The Warriors have also apparently told Butler behind the scenes that they intend to keep him (via ESPN’s Anthony Slater), so going back on that promise may not be in their purview.
James spent five-and-a-half years playing alongside of Davis in Los Angeles, with the duo guiding the Lakers to a championship during the pandemic-shortened 2019-20 campaign.
James developed a terrific relationship with Davis in the process and would surely love to join forces with him in Golden State, but unless the Dubs are willing to move Butler, that may not happen.
Whether or not acquiring Davis is a prerequisite for James to join the Warriors is anyone’s guess, but it certainly might sway his decision.
Many expected James to re-sign with the Lakers, but he is now evidently weighing his options.
We’ll see what the 41-year-old decides to do.
