While LeBron James is golfing and globetrotting, the Golden State Warriors are plotting to “lure” him from the Los Angeles Lakers in free agency.
Yahoo! Sports NBA senior analyst Kevin O’Connor published a report Sunday night that covers free agency rumors league-wide, but the bombshell pertains to the Warriors’ pursuit of James, 41, and Washington Wizards All-Star big man Anthony Davis.
“The Warriors are attempting to trade for Wizards big Anthony Davis and then sign Lakers free-agent forward LeBron James, according to multiple league sources,” O’Connor wrote.
He continued, “A trade for Davis would have to include Jimmy Butler, who is on an expiring $57 million contract while recovering from a torn ACL. The Warriors would also have to include draft capital — they have two future firsts and four first-round swaps to work with in any deal.
“Sources say the Warriors hope adding Davis would help lure LeBron from Los Angeles to the Bay Area once free agency officially opens Tuesday. The pitch would be simple: reunite with AD, team up with Steph Curry and Draymond Green, play for Steve Kerr, and chase one more championship with a roster of legends.”
James departed the Cleveland Cavaliers to sign with the Lakers as a free agent in July 2018. In December of that year, James publicly stated that it would be “amazing” and “incredible” if the Lakers could trade for Davis, then starring for the New Orleans Pelicans star.
James got his wish when the Lakers assembled a blockbuster package to acquire Davis in June 2019, and the ensuing season, the duo led the Lakers to the NBA title in the Bubble — Davis’ first ring, James’ fourth.
Then, Davis was part of the granddaddy of all blockbuster trades when the Dallas Mavericks shockingly sent All-NBA and All-Star guard Luka Doncic to the Lakers in February 2025.
Davis dealt with injury and was limited to only 29 appearances for the Mavericks before Dallas traded him to the Wizards this February. He has yet to play his first game for Washington and, if O’Connor’s sources are correct, he may never.
As for James, the 22-time All-Star and four-time NBA MVP remained vague when discussing his future at his postgame presser after the Lakers were swept out of the playoffs by the Oklahoma City Thunder on May 12.
“I don’t know what the future holds for me, obviously, as it stands right now tonight,” James said, adding, “I’ll go back and recalibrate with my family and talk with them and spend some time with them. When the time comes, obviously, you guys will know what I decide to do.”
ESPN’s Shams Charania and Ramona Shelburne have reported on separate occasions over the past week that the Lakers had not offered a contract to James, and he had not committed to returning to the Lakers.