​The Golden State Warriors had ambitious plans for this offseason, aiming to give Stephen Curry one final chance at a fifth championship. They went into the summer hopeful of landing LeBron James in free agency while also pursuing a deal to bring Anthony Davis aboard, so that the former Lakers teammates could reunite with Curry and Draymond Green. Yet with James still undecided about his next destination, Golden State now appears to be out of the running. The sticking point: they aren’t prepared to meet the Washington Wizards’ hefty asking price for Davis.
Shadows of the trade talks indicate that the Warriors believe they aren’t finalists to sign James unless they pair him with Davis in a trade, a combination that would significantly alter their championship window. Washington holds the leverage in the Davis negotiations, and at this juncture they are wielding that leverage aggressively. The Wizards reportedly want a haul that includes Jimmy Butler, multiple first-round picks, multiple first-round swaps, and several second-round picks from Golden State as the price for Davis. If Golden State cannot meet those terms, James may decide to sign elsewhere.
As Charania notes, the Warriors’ chances of landing James are tied to a Davis deal, which places the Wizards in a powerful position. If they can’t strike that trade, LeBron’s next destination could be somewhere other than Golden State. At the moment, the Cavaliers, Heat, and 76ers are considered the frontrunners to sign James in free agency, though no decision has been made.
Washington’s path to acquiring Davis began at the trade deadline in February when they landed him from the Dallas Mavericks with relatively little cost, aside from the Thunder’s 2026 first-round pick (No. 30 overall) and a top-20 protected 2030 pick from Golden State, along with matching contracts. Davis didn’t suit up for Washington, but now the Wizards could flip him for a even larger package if the Warriors grow desperate. The one caveat is that, for now, Golden State isn’t prepared to engage on such terms.
James and Davis have the shared history of a championship run with the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2020 bubble season. Both are represented by Rich Paul and Klutch Sports, a connection that has stirred speculation that the agency is using Golden State’s interest to pressure for a Davis extension in Washington. The consensus, it seems, is that LeBron Wetting the situation buttoned up by James signing with Golden State without a Davis pairing would not yield a true championship contender, especially if Jimmy Butler is sidelined for a large portion of next season while he recovers from a torn ACL.
The Wizards are understandably emboldened to press their advantages against Golden State. Washington isn’t projected to be a strong playoff team next season even with Davis, and his age and fit alongside No. 1 overall pick AJ Dybantsa complicate the timeline. The Wizards should continue to push Golden State for as much as they can, up until the moment LeBron is ready to announce his decision.
Golden State’s reluctance to part with multiple first-round picks and multiple draft swaps for Davis—who, while talented, isn’t a guaranteed upgrade that would justify ceding heavy future assets—appears prudent for now. Their stance is a reminder that, in these high-stakes scenarios, the cost of a potential championship run must be weighed against the durability of the franchise’s long-term plans. Until LeBron’s destination becomes clearer, and until the Davis-by-way-of-Washington calculus shifts, Golden State will likely stand firm, preserving its draft capital and roster flexibility for future windows.