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Warriors Pursue LeBron, Keep Butler, Sign Porzingis.

6/30/2026

44 7 Full Breakdown

Summary

Warriors Chase LeBron

Warriors lead pursuit of free-agent LeBron James, available July 1.
GM Mike Dunleavy Jr. and coach Steve Kerr told Jimmy Butler the team will not trade him.
The Warriors signed Kristaps Porzingis to a two-year, $40 million contract.
Reports say the Warriors will not trade for Anthony Davis because his $58.4 million 2026-27 salary and the required Butler $56.8 million salary plus draft picks exceed their willingness.

Summary

Warriors Hard-Cap

Warriors would be hard-capped after using the $15.1 million mid-level exception for LeBron James.
The Big Four would average 37 years, creating a thin bench because Moses Moody is out with a patellar-tendon tear.
Only Will Richard remains under contract, while Anthony Davis and 41-year-old LeBron James have missed games in recent seasons.
A Davis trade would require Jimmy Butler and at least one unprotected first-round pick, draining future assets.

History

Historical Context

In July 2010 Pat Riley and Erik Spoelstra secured LeBron James on a multi-year deal, completing Miami’s “Big Three” with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. The move gave the Heat nearly $48 million of cap space, spurring other clubs to pursue superteams and prompting later collective-bargaining limits. Today the Golden State Warriors face similar cap-space challenges while building their own star-laden roster.

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Warriors Chase LeBron

Warriors lead pursuit of free-agent LeBron James, available July 1.
GM Mike Dunleavy Jr. and coach Steve Kerr told Jimmy Butler the team will not trade him.
The Warriors signed Kristaps Porzingis to a two-year, $40 million contract.
Reports say the Warriors will not trade for Anthony Davis because his $58.4 million 2026-27 salary and the required Butler $56.8 million salary plus draft picks exceed their willingness.

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