Curry plans – Steph Curry is reportedly planning to meet with LeBron James over the next few weeks before free agency begins, as momentum grows around the Warriors pursuing the legendary forward. The plan comes amid shifting roster and money paths—especially the Warriors’ n
For the Warriors, “championship or bust” has never just been a slogan—it’s been a gravitational pull. Even as Golden State publicly talked about stepping back from that decade-defining mindset, the team’s next big swing keeps hovering in the background.
Momentum is building toward a serious attempt to sign LeBron James this offseason, and the most telling detail sits in the timeline. Steph Curry is reportedly planning to meet with LeBron before the start of free agency, as the Warriors look to explore the idea over the course of the next few weeks.
Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints reported that league sources have told him the Warriors are open to pursuing LeBron James this offseason in free agency. Siegel also quoted that same source saying LeBron could still contribute at a high level. pointing to what was seen in the playoffs. The pitch. according to that report. is the pairing—LeBron and Stephen Curry—something the Warriors want to pursue over the next few weeks.
The tone around the effort has shifted. and Siegel’s reporting captures that change: what once seemed doubtful and low-percentage is now “kind of questionable. ” with “some legs” behind it. The source also told Siegel that Steph is planning that meeting and those conversations with LeBron about potentially joining Golden State leading up to free agency.
This would not be the first time the Dubs have tried to pull LeBron toward the Bay. Golden State has reportedly checked in with the Lakers about LeBron’s potential availability via trade over the past couple seasons. Two years ago, it seemed more certain that James would finish his career with the Lakers. Then the Los Angeles roster picture snapped into a new shape when the league-shattering blockbuster that brought Luke Dončić to Los Angeles changed the dynamic.
Money is where the Warriors’ pitch either becomes real—or runs out of air.
The cleanest path, on paper, is the non-taxpayer mid-level exception, which is worth roughly $15 million per season. Even with that option, it would still represent a 70% pay cut for LeBron. A sign-and-trade could be another way to increase what LeBron receives, but the trade mechanics hinge on who leaves.
The complication is roster, contract, and fit. A sign-and-trade would require Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green, or Kristaps Porzingis to head out in the deal. Butler’s exorbitant salary and an ACL injury likely make him a non-starter. On paper. Green could fit with the Lakers as they look for a defensive anchor. but the long-standing close relationship between Green and James—plus their shared agent. Rich Paul—makes that scenario less likely. That leaves Porzingis as the most plausible option among the three.
Sign-and-trades also come with specific rules. They require three-year contracts, but they can include non-guaranteed years. Given Porzingis’ upside, the Lakers may be willing to gamble on a three-year, $75 million deal with only the first season guaranteed.
A deal structured this way would potentially let the Warriors pay LeBron around $30 million to $35 million next season. There’s also another lever in Green’s situation. Green could decline his player option and re-sign an extension with a lower salary in 2026-27. which would leave the Dubs more space below the first apron to use their mid-level exception for another addition.
Still, the questions won’t disappear just because the Warriors are reaching. Time will tell whether this effort reflects a genuine bid to become a serious contender for LeBron—or whether Golden State is simply one more stop in a larger negotiation. a way for LeBron to extract more guaranteed money from the Lakers.
Even so, the Warriors don’t have many easy answers sitting on the shelf. They are sorely lacking premium talent, and the list of options to add it is thin. That’s why. despite the odds being described as low. the idea of a “hail mary” attempt to land LeBron remains a tempting strategy. If Curry’s meeting happens before free agency kicks off. the only thing more difficult than making the pitch may be accepting what the answer is—once the weeks of buildup are done.
Steph Curry LeBron James Golden State Warriors free agency non-taxpayer mid-level exception sign-and-trade Luke Dončić Los Angeles Lakers Rich Paul Jimmy Butler Draymond Green Kristaps Porzingis