Some rumors and some ideas will simply never end. In 15 years, Canon Curry will be shooting 55% from deep for the Golden State Warriors, and various reporters will be mentioning the team\u2019s desire to trade for LeBron James or Giannis Antetokounmpo to pair with the third generation shooter.<\/p>\n
But that\u2019s a story for another year, to be written by the replacement to my replacement\u2019s replacement. For now, we focus on 2026 when, wouldn\u2019t you know it \u2026 the Warriors are reportedly trying to add two of the seminal stars of this era.<\/p>\n
With the current season all but over following Jimmy Butler III\u2019s season-ending ACL tear, the Warriors are, justifiably, turning their attention to the offseason. And they are, justifiably, doing it with their vintage \u201clight years\u201d approach of audacious planning.<\/p>\n
Yes, according to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line<\/a>, the Warriors have their eyes set towards a summer of LeBron and Giannis. Here\u2019s what Fischer wrote on Thursday:<\/p>\n Sources say that the Warriors naturally do plan to feature prominently in the trade mix for Milwaukee\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n This audacious plan, while unlikely to come to fruition, has become more plausible over the last 48 hours. The situation with Antetokounmpo and the Bucks is seemingly growing worse daily, with ESPN\u2019s Shams Charania<\/a> saying, \u201cthe writing is on the wall.\u201d As for James, the curtain is being pulled back on the Lakers\u2019 dysfunction, and signs are increasingly pointing towards this being his final season in the purple and gold. An ESPN expos\u00e9 by Baxter Holmes<\/a> on Wednesday painted the picture of a tense and uncomfortable relationship between LeBron and Jeanie Buss \u2026 and, just as importantly, implied that Buss might be ready to move on from James when he enters free agency later this year.<\/p>\n The Warriors have a path to acquiring each \u2014 and even both \u2014 this offseason, but it\u2019s not the path that\u2019s likely to be taken. Butler\u2019s expiring contract matches Antetokounmpo\u2019s, and Golden State could build a decently compelling package based around a bevy of first-round picks. That package becomes more interesting if they hang onto Jonathan Kuminga past the deadline, opt into his deal for next season, and can include his expiring contract to take some more long-term money off of Milwaukee\u2019s books. Even so, the Warriors probably can\u2019t put together the best package for Antetokounmpo, and may have to rely on the two-time MVP desiring a pairing with Curry \u2026 and Milwaukee doing what they can to facilitate that desire.<\/p>\n Signing James is even less likely. Despite Golden State\u2019s interest, I\u2019m not convinced they would swap Butler for LeBron in a sign-and-trade and, if not, any move would be contingent on James taking a non-max contract to team up with Curry. If he were willing to sacrifice half of his salary, the Warriors could work a sign-and-trade around a Kuminga package \u2026 and if he were willing to sacrifice a few more tens of millions, he could sign outright as a mid-level exception. We know LeBron would love to play alongside Curry and Draymond Green, and he has not been shy in his adoration for Steve Kerr. Would all of that, plus a chance to compete for another ring, compel him to take a massive discount for the first time in his storied career? Seems unlikely, but one never knows what a player desires in the twilight of their career.<\/p>\n Of course, since this is Joe Lacob we\u2019re talking about, it\u2019s safe to assume the Warriors are not just hoping for one of these far-fetched outcomes, but both of them. In the interim, don\u2019t expect the Warriors to take a \u201cshoot for the stars, land on the clouds\u201d approach with Butler\u2019s contract. According to Fischer, the Dubs \u201cdon\u2019t plan to entertain any move involving Butler unless a truly top-tier trade target tries to push their way toward teaming up with Curry.\u201d Fischer specifically said that Golden State has not shown interest in Anthony Davis, and I would assume it is only an Antetokounmpo-level talent that would get their attention.<\/p>\n It can\u2019t hurt to dream\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Some rumors and some ideas will simply never end. 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