DHJ Quick Take: Warriors Expect James to Re-Sign With Lakers
- Golden State’s Pursuit and Intel: While the Golden State Warriors strongly desire to sign LeBron James in free agency this offseason, team management possesses internal intel leading them to believe the future Hall of Famer will ultimately re-sign with the Los Angeles Lakers.
- Deep Los Angeles Ties: Despite his close personal friendships with Warriors stars Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, James’ deep-rooted connections in Los Angeles—including strong relationships with Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves and head coach JJ Redick, alongside playing with his son Bronny—heavily favor a return.
- Retirement the Only Wildcard: Barring a massive surprise decision to retire from the NBA entirely this summer, all league signs point toward the multi-time MVP forward returning to the Lakers roster for the upcoming season.
The Golden State Warriors want to sign LeBron James in free agency this offseason, but they believe the NBA legend will re-sign with the Los Angeles Lakers, according to Anthony Slater of ESPN.
James is close friends with Warriors stars Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, but Golden State has intel that LeBron is staying with the Lakers.
“All the intel that Warriors decision-makers have gathered continues to point toward James’ return to the Lakers, team sources said, and they are currently plotting their summer under that premise,” Slater wrote.
James and Curry were teammates on Team USA in the summer of 2024 and played well together, helping the United States win the gold medal. Meanwhile, Green and James have the same agent, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports Group.
However, most people who cover the NBA expect James to remain with the Lakers.
The Warriors missed the playoffs this season, while the Lakers lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round in four games.
Luka Dončić missed the entire 2026 playoffs because of a serious hamstring injury, while Austin Reaves missed Games 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the Lakers-Houston Rockets first-round series due to an oblique strain. LAL defeated Houston in six games behind James, who had to be the No. 1 option since Dončić was injured.
James averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game this regular season in 60 appearances. In the 2026 playoffs against the Rockets and Thunder, James put up 23.2 points, 6.7 rebounds and 7.3 assists per game.
A future Hall of Famer, James is a four-time MVP, four-time champion and four-time Finals MVP. He’s played for the Cleveland Cavaliers (twice), Miami Heat and Lakers. The Akron native is the all-time leader in points, field goals, games and minutes.
James is the oldest active player in the NBA. He turns 42 in December and has been in the league since 2003.
“It’s up to the mind,” James told TIME when asked about his NBA future. “Where the mind goes, the body will lay. When I’m not in love with getting to the arenas on game days five hours before to start my preparation, if I’m out of love with getting to practice 2½ hours beforehand, then I know I’ll be done. Because then I’m going to start cheating the game.”
James has been with the Lakers since the 2018-19 season. He guided the franchise to the 2020 championship against the Heat in six games at the Walt Disney World bubble. LAL also made the Western Conference Finals in 2023, a series the Denver Nuggets won in four games.
James has close relationships with Dončić, Reaves and Lakers head coach JJ Redick. His son, Bronny James, is also on the Lakers.
Unless LeBron shocks the world and retires from the NBA this summer, all signs point toward the All-Star forward being back on the Lakers.
Latest NBA News & Rumors At Dallas Hoops Journal
- Miami Heat Could Pursue Kawhi Leonard, Trae Young, Ja Morant If They Don’t Get Giannis Antetokounmpo
- San Antonio Spurs Not Expected To Trade De’Aaron Fox This Offseason
- Giannis Antetokounmpo ‘Focused’ On Getting Traded By Milwaukee Bucks To Miami Heat
- Los Angeles Lakers Expected To Re-Sign Austin Reaves
- Giannis Antetokounmpo Would Sign Extension With Celtics If Milwaukee Bucks Trade Him To Boston
- Sources: Dallas Mavericks Don’t Plan To Trade Kyrie Irving
- Boston Celtics Willing To Trade Jaylen Brown To Get Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo
- LeBron James Sign-And-Trade Proposal Sends Los Angeles Lakers Star Back To Cleveland Cavaliers
