The Warriors should consider LeBron James. But Anthony Davis isn’t worth the risk

SAN FRANCISCO – Mike Dunleavy left himself some wiggle room before the NBA Draft that helps explain why the speculation about the Golden State Warriors adding two future Hall of Famers is suddenly gaining steam.

When asked directly if the organization would be comfortable getting older this summer, the Warriors general manager offered a glimpse into the thinking that could shape the next few weeks.

“I think we’ve got to look at it,” Dunleavy said on June 17. “It’s a sliding scale. We’re OK with we’re going to get older. Frankly, it’s not the best thing, but if it’s going to make us better, like significantly better, I think we have to look at that, because that’s really our thought process and job right now is to make this team better. If it means doing older, then we’ll do it, but that’s pretty unlikely. There’s only so many guys I feel like we could bring in that are older. We’ve got some guys on the back end of it already, and to add to that there would definitely be some risk. Maybe there’s a situation we do that and go for it.

“Yeah, I mean, we obviously would prefer to get younger.”

Twelve days later, after Draymond Green officially opted out of his nearly $28 million player option, the intrigue around whether LeBron James and Anthony Davis could pair up together again, this time with Stephen Curry and Green in Golden State, has grown even louder. Green’s decision allows the Warriors more time to explore all of their options. As Dunleavy does, he would be wise to remember his own words.

What we know about LeBron James’ retirement decision

Dan Woike

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Adding James for one season makes sense because he’s one of the greatest players of all time. If he were to sign, it would almost certainly have to be for the midlevel exception, which is worth roughly $15 million. That’s low-risk and high-reward potential for a franchise that has the type of culture that could absorb James’ star power. He also has a built-in chemistry with Curry and with Warriors and former Team USA coach Steve Kerr, with whom he won an Olympic gold medal for Team USA in the 2024 Summer Olympics.

What makes far less sense in this dream sequence is the Warriors adding Davis.

After almost a decade and a half in the league, the 33-year-old just isn’t worth the risk. He appeared in just 20 games last season for the Dallas Mavericks and has battled a number of injuries over his career. His contract, which still has roughly $58 million remaining for this season plus a nearly $63 million player option for 2027-28, would be an enormous commitment for the Warriors.

When Will Steph Curry retire?

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Any team that signs Davis to a new deal is playing with fire – one that would burn even hotter for the Warriors given that it would likely take future picks to make any Davis deal happen. It would also take the Washington Wizards, or any other team, agreeing to take Jimmy Butler’s contract while he recovers from an ACL injury next season.

Even if they did pull this off and landed James and Davis, would that team be good enough to get out of the West? The Warriors would be, by far, the most interesting day-to-day story in the NBA next season, but they wouldn’t have the league’s best roster. The San Antonio Spurs and the Oklahoma City Thunder are deeper and better.

Even if Curry – who has a chronic knee issue that caused him to miss over two months last season – James and Davis all reached the postseason healthy, this team does not have the depth needed to win for two months in the playoffs.

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What You Should Read Next

LeBron James and Anthony Davis to Warriors? Here’s how Golden State could do it.

Is there a way LeBron James, Steph Curry, Anthony Davis and Draymond Green could play together? Here’s how it could work financially.

Trying to acquire Davis as a last-ditch Hail Mary at the end of the Curry era isn’t worth the attempt because of the damage it would do to the future. The Warriors need to focus on developing their young talent and players such as first-round pick Yaxel Lendeborg, while looking for opportunities to get younger, not older, as Curry’s incredible reign comes to an end.

The idea of seeing James, Davis, Curry and Green join forces is certainly compelling. It would dominate headlines in the basketball world – but it wouldn’t give them the boost they need in the standings given what it would take to make it happen. If the Warriors are serious about maximizing what’s left of the Curry era, they need to focus on the reality in front of them. They aren’t good enough to win another championship with this core – and adding Davis wouldn’t get them that much closer.

The Warriors should consider LeBron James. But Anthony Davis isn’t worth the risk

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