The Golden State Warriors just made their first move of the offseason by keeping the 11th pick in the 2026 NBA Draft and grabbing Yaxel Lendeborg. But the real prize they’re chasing? LeBron James.
According to ClutchPoints insider Brett Siegel, the Warriors believe they are the frontrunners if James decides to leave the Lakers in free agency. The team thinks it has a legitimate shot, especially if they can use their full mid-level exception to make a competitive offer. But there’s a massive catch.
James would have to take a huge pay cut. Like, going from $50 million down to roughly $15 or $16 million for the season. That’s a brutal ask for any player, let alone one of the greatest of all time. But as Siegel notes, if anyone can afford to eat that kind of salary reduction and make it back in endorsements and business deals, it’s LeBron.
The three-team race
Right now, the conventional wisdom is that James has three real options: return to the Lakers, go back to the Cavaliers for a sentimental homecoming, or join Steph Curry and the Warriors. Cleveland is considered a legit contender because it’s home and could be the perfect way to cap a legendary career. A return to LA is still possible, but the vibe between both sides feels lukewarm as free agency approaches on June 30.
We got a taste of what LeBron and Steph could do together during Team USA’s gold medal run at the 2024 Paris Olympics. That chemistry was real, and fans have been wondering ever since if it could translate to the NBA.
LeBron at 41: still elite, but declining
Here’s the thing about LeBron’s age 41 season. He was still damn good for the Lakers. In 60 games, he averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 7.2 assists, and 1.2 steals. That’s a fantastic year for almost anyone in the league. But by LeBron’s standards, it’s the lowest scoring average of his 23-year career and the third lowest rebounding mark. He also played fewer minutes per game (33.2) and took fewer shots (15.3 per night) than ever before.
So the question isn’t whether LeBron can still play. It’s whether he wants to chase one more ring bad enough to leave tens of millions on the table. And whether Golden State can actually make the money work without gutting the rest of the roster.
Free agency opens June 30, and the Warriors are betting they can convince the King to take a massive discount. We’ll see if they’re right.
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