DHJ Quick Take: Warriors Believed to Prefer LeBron James Without Anthony Davis
There is a belief among league sources that the Golden State Warriors would prefer to land LeBron James in free agency without Anthony Davis, with skepticism that they largely view a Davis trade as a means to add James.
- What do the Warriors prefer? There is a belief Golden State would rather add LeBron James in free agency without taking on Anthony Davis.
- Where do the Warriors stand on Jimmy Butler? They have signaled a preference to keep him rather than move him in a Davis trade.
- What does Washington plan to do with Davis? The Wizards have signaled they want to keep him, with extension talks expected in mid-August.
- What’s next? NBA free agency opens Tuesday, June 30, with the James and Davis storylines among those to watch.
There is a belief from league sources in conversations with Dallas Hoops Journal that the Golden State Warriors would prefer to add LeBron James in free agency without bringing in Anthony Davis, and there is skepticism that Golden State largely views a Davis trade as a means to land James.
The recent buzz has connected a possible Davis trade to Golden State’s pursuit of James, but the read among some around the NBA is that the Warriors’ priority is James and that Davis figures into their thinking mostly as the mechanism to get there.
Skepticism the Golden State Warriors Largely View Anthony Davis as a Means to Add LeBron James
Landing Davis would require Golden State to part with the expiring contract of Jimmy Butler and additional draft capital, and Davis’ lengthy injury history and the reset of his extension timeline add risk to any deal. Adding James on his own would cost far less and preserve more of the Warriors’ flexibility.
Draymond Green declining his $27.7 million player option created the financial room to chase both, which fed the read that Golden State is setting up for something larger. Sources, though, are doubtful the Warriors are as committed to a Davis trade as the buzz suggests.
The current expectation is if the Warriors were to sign James, a salary for 2026-27 would be in the $15 million mid-level exception range, sources said.
Golden State Warriors Have Signaled a Preference to Keep Jimmy Butler
The Warriors have signaled they would prefer to keep Butler, sources said. Butler is the contract that would have to anchor any deal for salary-matching purposes, so a preference to hold onto him cuts against the framework the recent buzz has floated.
Butler is on an expiring deal and is working back from a torn ACL. Keeping him, rather than packaging him to bring in Davis, lines up with a preference to add James without taking on the cost and risk that a Davis trade would carry.
Some View Trade Buzz as Leverage for Klutch Sports Group Clients
Some around the NBA view the recent leaks as a conveniently beneficial leverage mechanism for James and Davis ahead of free agency, sources said.
Both are represented by Klutch Sports Group. With James set to reach the open market and Davis able to begin extension talks in early August, the speculation tying them to Golden State carries value for each before those windows open.
Washington Wizards Can Be Patient with Anthony Davis’ Contract Extension Window
The Washington Wizards re-signed Trae Young to a long-term extension this offseason and used the No. 1 overall pick on AJ Dybantsa, and the front office has pointed to mid-August, when Davis’ extension can formally be addressed, as the window for those talks.
Davis becomes eligible for a four-year extension worth roughly $275 million on Aug. 6. A trade would reset that timeline, because under league rules he could not sign the full extension until six months after any new deal closed. That math is one reason the situation is being treated with caution rather than as a move that is close.
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