When Draymond Green declined his $27.7m player option on Jun29, the move immediately pointed toward one larger Warriors idea: creating a path to LeBron James.
The plan, as it appeared then, was for Green to return on a new multi-year deal at a lower first-year number, giving Golden State more room to pursue James. The connection was not new. The Warriors made a run at James at the 2024 deadline, and James said in a 2022 interview that Stephen Curry was the current player he would most like to play with.
Less than 24 hours after Green's decision, James was not headed back to the Lakers, which only added to the sense that the Warriors had a real opening. By Jul3, though, there was still no deal, and ESPN Anthony Slater reported that Golden State had not been given any sign it was a front-runner.
Rich Paul has also widened the picture. On his podcast, Paul went through 10 possible James destinations on a whiteboard, laying out pros and cons. The Warriors, framed around Steph and Dray, were not presented as the central option and were the seventh team Paul discussed.
ESPN Brian Windhorst had said teams trying to get James' attention needed a major roster move. Golden State has not made that kind of outside addition. The Warriors have re-signed Al Horford, Kristaps Porzingis and De'Anthony Melton, and drafted Yaxel Lendeborg at No. 11, but a rookie was never likely to change the James chase.
There was also talk of an Anthony Davis trade as a way to help lure James, but Marc Stein reported the Warriors do not want to trade Jimmy Butler. Butler's contract would be the practical salary match for Davis, making that path difficult if Golden State holds firm.
Money may not be the Warriors' biggest edge, either. If James is willing to take minimum money, he can choose from a wide market. Golden State could offer a $15m mid-level exception if it moves off Moses Moody's contract, but that may not separate the Warriors if James is prioritizing the best title situation.
If James does not come, Slater reported that the Warriors' front office is comfortable bringing back mostly the same roster. That would keep Curry, Green and Butler together, but it would also leave Golden State close to the group that finished last season.
The Western Conference has pushed other teams into aggressive moves. The Spurs and Thunder have changed the standard for teams with real ambitions, while LaMelo Ball landed in Minnesota, Ja Morant went to Portland, and the Lakers sent the Jazz two first-round picks and two swaps while taking on Walker Kessler at $130m.
Golden State's approach has been more conservative unless a major name falls into place, as Butler did in the deal involving Andrew Wiggins and a pick. That has frustrated parts of the fan base after the Jonathan Kuminga and James Wiseman experiments, and as Joe Lacob's front office tries to protect a post-Curry future while Curry is still playing at a championship level.
The James pursuit fits the Warriors because it would not require max money or future draft capital. If it falls through, Golden State will be left with a familiar roster and a much harder question about how much more it is willing to risk around Curry.