The Golden State Warriors plan to pursue free agent LeBron James and Anthony Davis through a trade this week, league sources told ESPN’s Shams Charania, opening up the flexibility for such a possibility after Draymond Green declined his $27.6 million player option Monday morning.
Greene had until 5:00 pm ET to make a decision on this option. For weeks, team and league sources have indicated that Green would give up his one-year financial guarantee and the Warriors would work with him on a new contract – reducing his salary for next season – only if it freed up Golden State’s immediate flexibility to make a significant roster overhaul.
Hours before the option deadline, Green’s fall is a clear sign that something is brewing for the franchise and signals a change in his and the franchise’s faith in what they can pull off this summer.
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Green, James and Davis are represented by the same agent, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul.
The news of Green’s waiver was followed hours later by Kristaps Porzingis agreeing to a new two-year, $40 million contract to remain with the Warriors, somewhat complicating their ability to pay James’ full $15.1 million non-mid-level taxpayer fee. However, they still have the opportunity to make room for James.
Meanwhile, Green and the Warriors are expected to reunite, team sources said, but the exact nature of the contract has not yet been determined.
Team sources have been reporting a planned free agency pursuit of James for weeks, but early information told them James would likely return to the Los Angeles Lakers. However, talks with Los Angeles ahead of Tuesday’s free agency announcement came to nothing and appeared to have opened the door.
The Warriors could also pursue Davis, who league sources believe could be used as a motivational tactic to lure James to Golden State. They won a championship together in 2020 with the Lakers and remain close friends. However, according to league sources, there hasn’t been any tangible movement on the Davis front just yet.
To acquire Davis, the Warriors’ corresponding salary would almost certainly have to include superstar forward Jimmy Butler, who is nearly four months out of ACL surgery. He will earn $56.8 million next season. Davis will make $58.4 million in 2026-27 and has a $62.7 million player option for next season.
Even before the February trade deadline, the Warriors told Butler behind the scenes that they preferred him and planned to keep him.
“Are you talking about being traded?” Butler told ESPN last week. “It won’t be the first time. (But) it’s nice to know that I’m welcome here. If I get traded, I get traded. Their job is to win. Can I help them do that? Yes. If they feel like someone else can help them do it in a shorter time frame than whenever I come back, then they should go and do it, but for now, I’m here.”
Butler’s longtime agent Bernie Lee said the Warriors maintain they have no plans to move Butler.
“I don’t want to fall into a constant cycle of reacting to these things,” Lee said. “But I will say that the Warriors – from the owners to the front office to the coaches and medical staff – were resolute in their plan to support Jimmy in his rehabilitation… That remains true today as I respond to you.”