Warriors sources confirm to Sam Amick, Anthony Slater, and Jovan Buha of The Athletic that the team made an unsuccessful attempt to sign Lakers superstar LeBron James before last week’s trade deadline. However, The Athletic reports that there is “zero indication” that the Warriors were close to getting James.
Nonetheless, the fact that Golden State attempted to lure James away from Los Angeles demonstrates the Warriors’ willingness to take significant risks in order to capitalize on Stephen Curry’s still-excellent play, despite his advanced age (he turns 36 next month). It also opened the door to another possible pursuit this summer, when James could enter unrestricted free agency if he declines his $51.4MM player option.
According to The Athletic, James will not be the only star player the Warriors consider pursuing, provided they are still available. Their “dream scenario” would be to trade for Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, while Clippers wing Paul George and Suns forward Kevin Durant are also on their wish list.
Antetokounmpo has only ever played for Milwaukee, and he inked a long-term extension before the season started that has him under contract until at least 2027, with a player option for 2027/28. George has a $48.8 million player option for 24/25 and has openly stated that he wants to sign an extension with the Clippers. Durant, who won back-to-back championships with Golden State in 2017 and 2018, could become a free agent in 2026.
The emergence of Jonathan Kuminga, whom GM Mike Dunleavy Jr. described as “virtually” untouchable following the deadline, has provided the Warriors with an internal avenue to a potential star running companion for Curry. He will be eligible for a rookie scale extension this summer.
According to The Athletic, Kuminga might be an appealing centerpiece in a blockbuster trade, depending on Golden State’s strategy. According to Amick, Slater, and Buha, the Warriors will have all but one of their future first-round picks available for trade this summer, as well as some financial flexibility, with Klay Thompson on an expiring $43.2MM contract and Chris Paul on a pseudo-expiring deal (his $30MM salary for ’24/25 is not guaranteed).
