The NBA world buzzed on Monday when a potential LeBron James-Anthony Davis reunion in Golden State emerged.
After Draymond Green opted out of his $27.7 million contract, speculations became rampant that James and AD could take their talents to the Bay Area to team up with Stephen Curry and eventually Green.
Just one day into free agency on Tuesday, things are turning out to be more complicated than many predicted. The Warriors’ reported pursuit of Davis isn’t as simple as it seemed.
Golden State Warriors Reportedly Want One Thing From LeBron James Before Chasing Anthony Davis
The first reported obstacle in the speculated James-Davis signing with the Warriors came from NBA insider Brian Windhorst hours before free agency opened. Windhorst said on “Get Up” that the “Warriors told Jimmy Butler they’re not trading him.”
Butler’s $56.8 million contract is the easiest match to Davis’ $58.5 million deal for a trade to happen.
Curry’s $62.6 million salary is another avenue for the Warriors to get AD, but the two-time MVP is untouchable.
The Washington Wizards are also not interested in helping the Warriors’ plan, according to Marc J. Spears.
“The Washington Wizards are not interested in trading 10-time NBA All-Star forward Anthony Davis and are not listening to trade offers for him, a source told @espn @andscape. Another NBA team exec says Wizards GM Will Dawkins is a huge fan of AD,” Spears tweeted.
With the Warriors’ potential pursuit of Davis in limbo, landing James might not be an option.
“From what I understand, this is a sequencing issue. They (Warriors) would want a commitment from Lebron James before they would go make a move for somebody like Anthony Davis,” NBA insider Ramona Shelburne said on NBA Today on Tuesday.
Ramona on Lebron possibly going to the Warriors:
“From what I understand this is a sequencing issue. They would want a commitment from Lebron James before they would go make a move for somebody like Anthony Davis. As I understand it now there haven’t been any substantive… pic.twitter.com/s1iyRQuJEb
— Oh No He Didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) July 1, 2026
Shelburne added that “there haven’t been any substantive conversations between the Warriors and the Washington Wizards about Anthony Davis…yet.”
Windhorst confirmed his ESPN colleague’s point:
“Who is going to make moves to make this more attractive for LeBron James? Just because the Cavs have a good team, Miami has Giannis (Antetokounmpo), or the Warriors have Steph (Curry), doesn’t mean that’s how they’ll do their recruitment. Their recruitment of LeBron is going to come with the things they can do before they offer him that contract.”
James reportedly wants to play for a city where he’s happy and can still compete for a championship. With multiple teams seriously interested in signing him, the 41-year-old can take his time and explore the market before making a decision.
MORE: NBA Rumors: Insider Reveals Cavaliers Could Trade for $285,393,640 Superstar to ‘Get LeBron James’ Attention’
The potential James-Davis reunion in San Francisco isn’t completely dead, though, according to another NBA insider, Sam Amico.
“Wizards would trade Anthony Davis. But if the Warriors want AD, they’d need to find a third team. Wizards not interested in Jimmy Butler,” Amico tweeted.
The free agency period has only just begun. And while there has been a frenzy, with several stars changing teams, there is still plenty of time for the Warriors to try to complete a legendary roster. There is still a chance that the basketball world could see James, Davis, Curry, and Green all play for the Warriors.