Warriors' Offseason Strategy Unfolds
Draymond Green Declines Option, Enabling Warriors' Pursuit of LeBron James, Anthony Davis
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Key Points
1
There is a deadline to decide on Draymond Green's option: 9 p.m. Pacific on Monday, after which he becomes a free agent and negotiations toward a new deal can begin.
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Al Horford declined his player option and is reportedly returning to Golden State on a two-year deal, with Kristaps Porzingis also a free agent and the Warriors publicly expressing interest in bringing both frontcourt players back.
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Steve Kerr is expected to return to the Warriors on a lucrative two-year contract, aligning with the team’s plan to extend their championship window around Curry.
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The Warriors are reportedly pursuing aggressive moves, including a potential trade for Anthony Davis and a pursuit of LeBron James, with Jimmy Butler involvement as part of discussions to facilitate that path.
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Mike Dunleavy Jr. has signaled a preference to get younger players into the mix, even as the organization eyes big-name targets in the offseason.
Draymond Green declined his $27.7 million player option with the Golden State Warriors on June 29, making him an unrestricted free agent, according to ESPN. The move is the opening play in an aggressive offseason gamble to pair Stephen Curry with LeBron James and Anthony Davis — forming a potential Big 4 that could redefine the Warriors' championship window.
Green called the path "mutually beneficial" to help him retire a Warrior, The Standard reported. By taking a pay cut on a new multi-year deal — likely around $20 million annually — Green frees up the cap room Golden State needs to chase two of the NBA's biggest remaining stars.
How Green's Pay Cut Creates a Path to James and Davis
The Warriors currently have $156 million committed to eight players, according to The Athletic. By opting out, Green allows the team to stay under the NBA's "First Apron" — a $209 million hard-cap threshold. Staying under that line unlocks a Non-Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception worth $15.1 million, the exact tool Golden State plans to use to sign LeBron James.
James, 41, has reportedly received no contract offer from the Lakers, Yahoo Sports reported. That silence opens the door for the Warriors to pitch him on the mid-level deal. Meanwhile, Jimmy Butler's $57 million expiring contract becomes the salary-matching piece in a potential trade for Anthony Davis, who is currently on the Washington Wizards after their 17-65 season.
Wizards' Davis Stance and a Thin Trade Window
The Warriors' pursuit of Davis faces real obstacles. Wizards GM Will Dawkins said as recently as last week that Davis "wants to be here," casting doubt on whether Golden State's trade package is even on the table, per ESPN. The Warriors would need to ship out Butler — recovering from a mid-season ACL tear — along with additional assets to make the math work.
Some analysts are skeptical. Hoops Rumors called the pursuit of James and Davis "dubious," pointing out that relying on a 41-year-old James and an injury-prone Davis is a risky bet. If the Davis trade falls through, the entire strategy — built around luring James to San Francisco — could collapse.
Al Horford Returns, Porzingis Likely Out as Roster Reshapes
While big moves are still pending, one piece is already locked in. Al Horford, 40, declined his $6 million player option and signed a new two-year, $14 million deal to stay in Golden State, Hoops Rumors reported. The signing means Horford will play a 20th NBA season — joining only 12 other players in league history to reach that milestone.
Kristaps Porzingis is expected to walk in free agency as a casualty of the roster overhaul. The Warriors also drafted Yaxel Lendeborg 11th overall on June 25, a nod to GM Mike Dunleavy Jr.'s stated desire to get younger. But as Yahoo Sports noted, pursuing James and Davis signals a total pivot toward veteran-heavy dominance over rebuilding.
Kerr Extension Signals Warriors Are All-In Through 2028
Steve Kerr agreed to a two-year contract extension worth at least $35 million — roughly $17.5 million per year — keeping him the highest-paid coach in the NBA through 2027-28, according to The Athletic. The timing is deliberate. Kerr's deal runs exactly as long as Stephen Curry's current contract, suggesting the organization has committed to one final championship push regardless of long-term cap health.
The stakes are enormous. If Golden State lands James and Davis, it would field one of the oldest rotations in NBA history — with Horford at 40, James at 41, and Davis at 33. The Warriors finished 37-45 last season and lost in the Play-In Tournament, according to Sportsnet. Everything that follows this summer is built on the belief that one more run is still possible around Curry.
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