LeBron Steph
Getty
LeBron James celebrates with Stephen Curry at the end of the men's semifinal basketball match between USA and Serbia.
Even after the devastating loss of Jimmy Butler to a season-ending ACL injury, the Golden State Warriors are not retreating into caution.
Instead, league insiders suggest the franchise is preparing to think bigger than ever.
According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, the Warriors are expected to explore two seismic paths this offseason: positioning themselves in any potential trade market for Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo — and revisiting the long-rumored idea of pairing LeBron James with Stephen Curry.
“Sources say that the Warriors naturally do plan to feature prominently in the trade mix for Milwaukee’s Antetokounmpo if he truly becomes available via trade this offseason,” Fischer reported Thursday in The Stein Line, “while also exploring the prospect of teaming James with Stephen Curry at last once LeBron becomes an unrestricted free agent on June 30.”
Warriors’ LeBron Interest Isn’t New — But the Context Has Changed
Golden State’s interest in James is not a recent development.
The Warriors explored the idea of trading for James in 2024, though those discussions never advanced beyond the earliest stages. ESPN reported at the time that the concept originated at the ownership level and was shut down before it ever reached James himself.
Veteran NBA insider Marc Stein later revealed that James’ longtime agent, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul, urged both franchises to abandon the idea entirely.
“It is believed the Lakers would have reluctantly entertained trade conversations … if James wanted them to seriously engage Golden State,” Stein reported at the time. “Yet league sources say the reported talks never got that far — in large part because his agent Rich Paul was adamantly opposed.”
Paul’s reasoning was rooted in optics and legacy. Stein reported that Paul sought to insulate James from potential backlash over joining a longtime rival and switching teams for a fourth time in his career.
That calculus, however, may no longer apply.
LeBron’s Free Agency Changes the Equation
James, now 41, is set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason — a dramatic shift from prior years when his contract status limited flexibility.
The Lakers could have as much as $50 million in cap space, but major financial decisions loom. Rising star Austin Reaves is due for a significant payday and could command north of $40 million annually, according to The Athletic’s Dan Woike, potentially reshaping Los Angeles’ priorities.
Golden State’s cap picture is similarly tight. Roughly $147 million is already committed to Curry, Butler, and Draymond Green, limiting traditional maneuvering. Any pursuit of James would require creativity, sacrifice, and a shared belief that a final championship push is worth the cost.
Curry–LeBron Chemistry Rekindles Possibility
What once felt implausible now carries fresh intrigue thanks to the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Under Team USA head coach Steve Kerr — who also leads the Warriors — James and Curry played together as teammates for the first time. The result was immediate chemistry and a gold medal run that reignited speculation about what an NBA version of that partnership could look like.
“All the battles we’ve had … the fact that we actually got to be teammates … I think there’s a deepened respect and friendship there,” Curry told People Magazine in September 2024.
Curry later fueled fan imagination by posting a celebratory photo with James and former Warriors teammate Kevin Durant, captioned “same team… winning team” — a moment that went viral and resonated across the league.
“Hopefully, there will be more experiences in the future, even if we’re teammates or not,” Curry added. “I think we motivated each other even more for however much longer we have left playing.”
On the Olympic stage, James often served as Curry’s primary facilitator, unlocking a dynamic that looked natural rather than forced — a detail that did not go unnoticed by fans or executives.
Giannis Remains the Ultimate Swing Option
While James represents a free-agency moonshot, Antetokounmpo remains the Warriors’ most ambitious trade target.
Golden State controls significant draft capital and has shown a willingness to make aggressive moves when an MVP-caliber player becomes available. If Milwaukee’s situation deteriorates, Fischer’s reporting suggests the Warriors intend to be present — and prepared.
Warriors Dream Big Even After Disaster
The Butler injury has unquestionably altered Golden State’s immediate trajectory. But it has not changed the franchise’s core philosophy.
As Curry enters the final chapter of his prime, the Warriors appear determined to leave no possibility unexplored — even if that means revisiting ideas once considered untouchable.
Pairing Curry with James. Chasing Giannis. Extending a championship window that once seemed to be closing.
For a franchise built on audacity, dreaming big may be the only way forward.