Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James and Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry
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LeBron James and Steph Curry during a game between the Lakers and Warriors in January 2024
The biggest storyline of the coming offseason will undoubtedly revolve around LeBron James and where his future lies, with the Golden State Warriors widely viewed as a potential landing spot.
James opted into his $52.6 million player option with the Los Angeles Lakers last offseason, setting himself up to hit unrestricted free agency this coming summer.
A third stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers has been widely speculated, with ESPN’s Dave McMenamin reporting that Cleveland would be open to such a possibility.
The Warriors have also been frequently mentioned as frontrunners should the 41-year-old superstar reach the open market.
Golden State Warriors Continue Long-Standing Pursuit of LeBron James
Interest from the Warriors is not new.
NBA insider Jake Fischer reported at the start of the 2025-26 season that Golden State’s front office “have called the Lakers on multiple occasions over the past 18 months to see whether there is any trade pathway to pairing James with Stephen Curry.”
Back in 2024, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelburne also reported that the Warriors made an “unsuccessful bid” to convince Los Angeles and James to consider a trade at the deadline.
Despite that failed attempt, the interest has continued as the league approaches another pivotal offseason.
According to Lakers Daily’s Ashish Matur, Curry and Draymond Green are expected to “heavily recruit” the Lakers superstar once free agency begins.
However, a new report has since surfaced that could dampen Golden State’s hopes.
“LeBron James is not interested in playing for the Golden State Warriors next season if he doesn’t retire from the NBA this offseason, sources told Lakers Daily,” Matur recently wrote.
Matur added that if James chooses to continue his career rather than retire, he is expected to either re-sign with the Lakers or return to the Cavaliers, leaving Golden State out of the equation.
Dunleavy Could Pivot to Other Superstar Targets
While the door remains open for James to return to the Lakers, reports have suggested the franchise may be willing to move on from its longtime superstar as it shifts towards building around Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.
Meanwhile, the Warriors are facing their own challenges after Jimmy Butler’s ACL tear disrupted their season. Golden State is widely expected to pursue a major roster move to revive its championship ambitions and maximize the remaining years of Curry.
Earlier this year, the Warriors were viewed as a leading suitor for Giannis Antetokounmpo when trade speculation began to swirl around the Milwaukee Bucks star at the trade deadline.
If Antetokounmpo becomes available this offseason, Golden State is expected to be among the most aggressive teams pursuing him, alongside several other contenders including the Lakers.
Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. recently expressed confidence in the team’s asset pool, noting that Golden State controls four first-round picks and multiple pick swaps over the next seven years.
The franchise also holds several contracts that could be used to structure potential trades.
As ESPN’s Bobby Marks has noted, the combined $18 million salaries of Moses Moody and Brandin Podziemski could be utilized in trade discussions, while Kristaps Porzingis may also become part of offseason maneuvering if he agrees to a sign-and-trade arrangement.
With the Golden State Warriors eager to make a major move and James’ future still uncertain, the offseason could bring significant shifts across the league’s power structure.