​Warriors poised to make a splash, but not with LeBron James or Anthony Davis
The free agency saga surrounding LeBron James has moved at a glacial pace since he told the Lakers he wouldn’t be returning, with Rich Paul steering the ship from the agent’s chair. James and his team have been crafting a whiteboard of “realistic” destinations and controlling information flow as the league speculates about where his client might land. Golden State was among the first teams to appear on that list and, for a time, looked like a legitimate frontrunner. But the sentiment around the league has shifted, and the Warriors no longer strike as a major threat.
Heading into the offseason, Golden State outlined an ambitious plan: retain Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, add James, and trade with Washington for Anthony Davis. Draymond Green even opted out of his $27.7 million contract to create the cap space needed for a blockbuster move, and the front office prioritized asset preservation, eschewing other free agents to keep powder dry. However, the AD deal unraveled when the Wizards refused to part with Davis. Without that second star, insiders view the Warriors’ outlook as bleaker than before. The front office had hoped for a significant roster upgrade, but pairing James and Davis in the Bay Area now seems highly unlikely.
“The Warriors want to make a splash,” ESPN reported, and while that splash could still materialize, it’s unlikely to come in the form of James and Davis. At present, the Warriors resemble a worn-out version of last season’s roster, one that failed to clinch a playoff spot. Their only substantive addition thus far is rookie Yaxel Lendeborg, selected 11th overall from the Michigan Wolverines. Talent aside, a rookie’s impact is unlikely to move the needle for aging veterans like Curry, Green, and Jimmy Butler.
That situation places GM Mike Dunleavy in a difficult position. By holding onto draft picks and staying out of trade chatter for Kawhi Leonard or Jaylen Brown, he’s banking on better health and a stroke of luck to salvage a roster that went 37-45 last year. There have even been whispers that Dunleavy might press James to sign now with a promise to push for a Davis trade at the February deadline. But for now, the club remains empty-handed: LeBron James is not in the fold, Anthony Davis remains out of reach, and there hasn’t been a meaningful addition to the roster.
The major upgrade Dunleavy seeks still exists somewhere, but it appears unlikely to come from the two superstars the organization built its offseason around. The Warriors’ window to capitalize on a true “splash” moment is narrowing, and the path forward will likely hinge on internal development, shrewd midlevel moves, and perhaps a late-season trade that can alter the team’s trajectory without relying on blockbuster names. As the dust settles, Golden State’s best-case scenario may be a return to competitiveness through depth, health, and smart moves rather than a headline-grabbing star pairing.