The Golden State Warriors went all in this offseason to lure LeBron James to the Bay Area, pairing the pitch with a run at Washington Wizards big man Anthony Davis in hopes of assembling a superstar core around Stephen Curry. Instead, James chose the Philadelphia 76ers, leaving Golden State largely running back the same roster from a season that ended without a playoff appearance — and leaving Curry, now approaching 39, with a far murkier path to one more championship.

A calculated but unsuccessful pitch

The Warriors' pursuit of James wasn't subtle. Curry himself made a personal appeal to James on "Good Morning America" during the free agency period, part of a broader campaign to convince the 41-year-old superstar that Golden State offered his best shot at a fifth championship ring. Draymond Green added to the effort by declining his $27.7 million player option for the 2026-27 season, a move that created additional salary-cap flexibility specifically aimed at helping the Warriors put together a competitive offer for James.

According to multiple reports, Golden State's full plan involved more than just signing James outright. The front office was simultaneously working to trade for Davis, hoping that adding the 10-time All-Star big man would sweeten the pitch and give James a more complete supporting cast alongside Curry and Green. That trade would have required Golden State to send Jimmy Butler, along with multiple first-round picks and pick swaps, to Washington. Ultimately,........

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