By ISABEL BALDWIN, US ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR
Published: 13:01 EST, 23 January 2026 | Updated: 13:03 EST, 23 January 2026
The Golden State Warriors could be plotting a sensational move for LeBron James after his future was cast into doubt by claims of a 'bitter feud' between Los Angeles Lakers chief and the NBA legend.
The league was rocked on Thursday when a bombshell report claimed that Lakers governor and former owner Jeanie Buss had grown frustrated with James over his 'ego and attitude' since he joined the storied franchise.
Now, amid the shock claims, it has emerged that another iconic franchise could be eyeing a trade for the four-time NBA champion.
The Golden State Warriors could be plotting a move to bring James to the Bay Area to link up with their own superstar, Steph Curry, amid the recent injury crisis, according to a report.
The Warriors lost Jimmy Butler to a season-ending ACL tear earlier this week and are already considering how the devastating injury impacts their their offseason plotting.
NBA insider Jake Fischer reported that Golden State currently has no plans to trade Butler and his max salary but that could change should one of their desired, mega-star candidates become available.
The Golden State Warriors could be plotting a sensational move for LeBron James
The Warriors could reportedly look to link James with Steph Curry when he hits free agency
The Warriors are expected to be in the mix for Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo, while a move for James hasn't entirely been ruled out either, per Fischer.
'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 while also exploring the prospect of teaming James with Stephen Curry at last once LeBron becomes an unrestricted free agent on June 30,' Fischer wrote for the Stein Line newsletter.
James is in the midst of his 23rd season in the NBA, and is set to become a free agent in June.
He negotiated a new deal with the Lakers but then-owner Buss was said to be ' resigned to the fact' that the team had little choice and that she 'almost begrudgingly accepted' that the franchise would 'take a massive PR hit by not doing so.'
The revelation came amid a number of stunning claims made in a report by ESPN this week about the alleged deterioration of Buss's relationship with James.
According to ESPN Buss, 64, 'privately grumbled' about 'what she felt was James' outsize ego' and also the 'overt control' the 41-year-old and Klutch Sports 'exerted over the organization at times.'Klutch Sports is the agency that represents both James and Anthony Davis.
Buss reportedly considered trading James across Los Angeles to the Clippers in 2022, a year after the 'distance... widened' between owner and star player.
Back in 2021, Los Angeles traded for Russell Westbrook - a move, according to ESPN, made as part of a bid to 'appease James'. But the trade failed and Jeanie is said to have 'privately bristled' about James' 'lack of accountability' and the way he 'would shift blame onto others.'
It comes amid claims of a 'bitter feud' between Lakers chief Jeanie Buss and the NBA legend
Golden State are are expected to be in the mix for Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo (right)
ESPN also claimed that the Lakers' controversial decision to select Bronny James in the 2024 NBA Draft was another source of frustration for Buss.
LeBron's eldest son was taken with the 55th overall pick, allowing them to become the first father-son duo to play together in the NBA.
And it's reported that Buss believed that James 'should be grateful for such a gesture, but she felt that he wasn't.'
Shortly after the report broke, Buss hit back in a statement of her own.
According to The Athletic, her statement read: 'It's really not right, given all the great things LeBron has done for the Lakers, that he has to be pulled into my family drama.
'To say that it wasn't appreciated is just not true and completely unfair to him'.
Yet, with James approaching free agency amid questions over his position within the Lakers, the Warriors could look to poach him from their west rivals in the offseason.