The Golden State Warriors started Monday primed to land LeBron James in free agency and Anthony Davis via trade after Draymond Green declined his $27.7 million player option. It created the kind of cap room and exceptions that the Warriors would need to complete the blockbuster move for the former Los Angeles Lakers duo.
However, a lot changed by evening as Kristaps Porzingis reportedly agreed to a two-year $40 million extension to return to the Warriors. It’s made things difficult for the Warriors to complete the double scoop for James and Davis. All hope is not gone yet, though.
Here’s what salary cap analyst Yossi Gozlan proposed to keep the “pipe dream” alive.
“The LeBron James-Anthony Davis pipedream is still alive,” he wrote on X. “They would presumably swap Jimmy Butler and picks for Davis. Then they could fit James with $15 million non-taxpayer mid-level under the first apron hard cap IF Draymond Green takes the same contract as Porzingis, and IF they also find a taker for Moses Moody.”
The first apron is projected to be at $209 million. As of now, the Warriors have $32.5 million first apron space with nine players under contract. They have the $15 million nontaxpayer exception available for signing James right away. However, that would hard cap them at the first apron and leave only $17.5 million to sign five players, presumably including Draymond Green.
However, Gozlan’s proposal would replace Anthony Davis’s $58.5 million salary with Jimmy Butler’s $56.8 million salary. The Warriors will shed $12.5 million in salary if they can trade Moses Moody. With Draymond Green’s next contract starting at around $19 million, the same as Kristaps Porzingis, the Warriors would create just enough space to remain under the taxpayer slab and use the $15 million exception for LeBron James.
It’s not as easy as it seems, but that’s how most deals under the new CBA go down. If the Warriors are motivated enough, they will likely find a way to get these moves done with ample time left in the offseason.
Skepticism grows on Anthony Davis to Warriors trade, but LeBron James remains favored to join rivals
The Anthony Davis equation in the Golden State Warriors’ blockbuster plan seems strange to many. Davis is past his prime. Since his trade to the Dallas Mavericks in February 2025, his injury issues, which didn’t limit him for two straight years with the Los Angeles Lakers, have returned.
Davis played only 29 games for the Mavericks and never debuted for the Wizards due to an injury. After the Warriors reportedly agreed to an extension with Kristaps Porzingis, local radio host Mark Willard ruled out a potential Davis trade.
“I was certainly under the impression that if the Anthony Davis/Lebron James [trade] happened, [Porziņģis] was probably going to be a casualty of that idea…& the fact that he’s back is yet another signal to me, that the Anthony Davis portion of this might not be in the Warriors’ actual plans,” Willard said on 95.7 The Game’s Willard and Dubs Show on Monday.
Davis and Porzingis would provide pretty much the same skillset on both ends. Davis, in fact, would be more limited as he’s not the most efficient floor-spacing center compared to Porzingis, who is one of the better shooters from three-point range. Moreover, both are injury-prone and for the Warriors to spend roughly $80 million in salary would be a massive gamble.
Even The Athletic’s Nick Friedell raised questions surrounding a potential Davis trade to the Warriors.
“After almost a decade and a half in the league, the 33-year-old just isn’t worth the risk,” Friedell wrote on Monday. “He appeared in just 20 games last season for the Dallas Mavericks and has battled a number of injuries over his career. His contract, which still has roughly $58 million remaining for this season plus a nearly $63 million player option for 2027-28, would be an enormous commitment for the Warriors.”
Friedell also feels that even if the Warriors manage this double scoop of Davis and James, they would still not match up to the likes of the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs due to their depth.
He believes the Warriors’ core isn’t closer to a title, and Davis wouldn’t move the needle.
Read more:
- Warriors Will Need Third Team to Pull Off Blockbuster Anthony Davis Trade: Report
- Nuggets Reporter Dubs Jaylen Brown ‘Lifeboat’ Denver Desperately Needs, Reveals Trade Package That Could Work
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in the NBA, college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!
