The Golden State Warriors’ reported pursuit of Anthony Davis and LeBron James gained more traction on Monday when Draymond Green declined his $27.7 million player option for the 2026-27 season.
With Green’s decision, the Dubs had more flexibility and cap space to be more aggressive in going after a star like AD.
However, a few hours after Green opted out, the Warriors made a key decision that could complicate their interest in Davis.
One Major Reason Has Warriors Radio Host Pouring Cold Water on Anthony Davis Rumors
Shams Charania posted breaking news on Monday that could end the Bay Area team’s reported pursuit of Davis. The NBA insider wrote that Golden State signed Kristaps Porzingis to a two-year, $40 million contract.
With the 7-foot-3 Latvian returning, some Warriors supporters are no longer as optimistic that the team could trade for AD.
“I was certainly under the impression that if the Anthony Davis/Lebron James [trade] happened, [Porziņģis] was probably going to be a casualty of that idea…and the fact that he’s back is yet another signal to me, that the Anthony Davis portion of this might not be in the Warriors actual plans,” Mark Willard of the “Willard & Dibs” podcast said following Charania’s tweet.
“I was certainly under the impression that if the Anthony Davis/Lebron James [trade] happened, [Porziņģis] was probably going to be a casualty of that idea…& the fact that he’s back is yet another signal to me, that the Anthony Davis portion of this might not be in the Warriors… pic.twitter.com/lGKV9IjOiy
— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) June 29, 2026
ESPN’s salary cap guru Bobby Marks walked Warriors supporters through major obstacles in trading for the former Los Angeles Lakers star big man.
“The Davis part is complicated, and here’s why. What do the Washington Wizards want? They’re saying, ‘Hey, we traded for Anthony Davis, we would like to extend him here. They have a lot of leverage here.”
“If you’re the Wizards, and Golden State wants Anthony Davis, you would certainly want to take basically every draft asset that they have, including all three of their first-round picks.”
“Why it’s complicated is where Golden State is with salary right now.”@BobbyMarks42 explores a pathway for the Warriors to pursue LeBron James and Anthony Davis after re-signing Kristaps Porzingis ✍️ pic.twitter.com/46figJM1o7
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) June 30, 2026
Marks also said that the Porzingis contract, which pushed the Warriors’ salary cap to $177 million, could make the signing of James challenging.
The ESPN analyst noted that the Dubs are $32 million below the first apron hard cap. He continued that potentially signing Green to around $20 million and James to $15 million will put them over that limit.
Swapping Jimmy Butler for Davis is the easiest way for the Warriors to bring AD to San Francisco. But as Marks said, the Wizards want more in a potential trade.
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NBA insider Kevin O’Connor wrote on Monday that Washington intends to keep the 10-time All-Star after giving star point guard Trae Young a four-year, $212 million contract.
All is not lost for Dub Nation, though. Yossi Gozlan, another NBA salary cap expert, shared his thoughts on how the Warriors could still have James, Davis, Green, and Porzingis on the same roster.
“The LeBron James-Anthony Davis pipedream is still alive. They would presumably swap Jimmy Butler and picks for Davis. Then they could fit James with $15 million non-taxpayer mid-level under the first apron hard cap IF Draymond Green takes the same contract as Porzingis, and IF they also find a taker for Moses Moody.”
Warriors cap situation after extending Kristaps Porzingis and De’Anthony Melton presumably opting out.
The LeBron James-Anthony Davis pipedream is still alive.
They would presumably swap Jimmy Butler and picks for Davis. Then they could fit James with $15 million non-taxpayer… https://t.co/v3fzt9Ty1m pic.twitter.com/faSwmI0aCB
— Yossi Gozlan (@YossiGozlan) June 29, 2026
Gozlan emphasized that De’Anthony Melton should opt out of his contract for the math to work. As if on cue, Melton declined his $3.5 million player option to test the free agent market.
The Warriors have some work to do to bring Davis to Golden State.
Foremost on their list is convincing Washington to agree to a trade with Butler, whose availability next season is uncertain due to an ACL injury. If the Wizards are not interested or not satisfied with what the Dubs have to offer, a trade for AD will be unlikely for the Warriors.
