Back in 2016, it would have been rather unfathomable to think about LeBron James joining forces with Steph Curry and Draymond Green in Golden State. However, that’s exactly the kind of push the Golden State Warriors appear to be making.
According to a report from NBA insider Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo Sports, the Warriors are hoping to lure LeBron to Golden State by acquiring one of his longtime teammates.
LeBron and AD in Golden State?
On Sunday, O’Connor cited multiple sources as he reported that the Warriors are attempting to acquire Anthony Davis in a trade with the Washington Wizards and then sign James as a free agent. The trade, O’Connor reports, would include Jimmy Butler as well as draft capital.
“Sources say the Warriors hope adding Davis would help lure LeBron from Los Angeles to the Bay Area once free agency officially opens Tuesday. The pitch would be simple: reunite with AD, team up with Steph Curry and Draymond Green, play for Steve Kerr, and chase one more championship with a roster of legends,” O’Connor wrote on Sunday.
This would not be the first time that James united with Curry and Kerr, as the trio won a gold medal together at the 2024 Olympic Games along with Davis. It worked out then, and would certainly be a high-profile move if the Warriors could pull it off.
‘Real Doubt’
While this would undeniably be the biggest storyline of the offseason, O’Connor reports that there is “real doubt” the Warriors could actually pull this off, especially after the Wizards already indicated that they planned to keep Davis and Butler does not appear to fit into their plans.
“Davis is on track to become eligible for a four-year, $275 million extension on Aug. 6. If Davis were traded, his extension clock would reset. Under the collective bargaining agreement, he would be ineligible to sign that full max deal until six months after the new trade becomes official,” O’Connor explains.
“Washington’s actions are those of a team looking to win now. Would a 37-year-old Butler returning from injury really have all that much appeal to the Wizards? Or would the Warriors need Butler to be routed to a third team, with a different All-Star-caliber player going back to Washington?”
There’s also a chance that other teams could be interested in acquiring Davis as well, as O’Connor notes, which would complicate matters for Golden State.
Regardless, it’s a fun scenario to ponder as NBA free agency kicks off.
About Dave Kelsey
Contributing author to The Comeback.