Warriors cap – After Draymond Green declined his 2026-27 player option, Golden State’s roster math appears tight—but workable—enough to chase LeBron James and Anthony Davis even after re-signing Kristaps Porziņģis to a two-year, $40 million deal.
The Warriors’ pitch for a LeBron James and Anthony Davis-sized summer isn’t just talk anymore. The turning point came with a single contract decision: Draymond Green declined his $27.7 million player option for the 2026-27 season.
That choice matters because it reopens what Golden State can do with his salary long-term. Instead of locking in $27.7 million annually. Green can sign a new contract that pays more over the long term but less than $27 million per year—and the money left over could be redirected toward building a path to LeBron James at a target $15 million annual number to fit within the non-taxpayer midlevel exception.
The Warriors also had to account for a second, equally consequential move. They re-signed Kristaps Porziņģis to a two-year. $40 million deal. immediately raising the practical question: could Golden State make the numbers work under the non-taxpayer midlevel exception rules. given that the Warriors’ total team salary can’t exceed the first-apron line to use that exception.
On the surface, it looked like a narrow lane. But when you start plugging in the pieces, the scenario remains viable.
Golden State sits $32.5 million under the first apron
A key part of the calculation centers on how much space the Warriors have right now. With $176.5 million devoted to 10 players—Stephen Curry. Jimmy Butler. Porziņģis. Al Horford. Moses Moody. Brandon Podziemski. Gui Santos. Will Richard. first-round pick Yaxel Lendeborg. and second-round pick Lajae Jones—the Warriors are currently $32.5 million beneath the first apron.
There’s one more hard constraint: the Warriors have to roster a minimum of 14 players. That means they need to add four more players for less than that $32.5 million figure.
From there, the math swings toward what it would take to land LeBron within the non-taxpayer midlevel exception.
One possible setup: LeBron at $15.1 million, Green around $40 million
The numbers laid out here start with an assumption that the Warriors give LeBron the $15.1 million NTMLE.
Under that framework, the Warriors would have 11 players covered with $17.4 million left to pay Green and two additional veteran-minimum deals at $2.4 million each.
Green, then, would be in line for something in the neighborhood of a three-year agreement worth around $40 million—again, used as a hypothetical in the scenario—putting Green’s first-year salary at a little over $12 million with the maximum 8% increases.
The question that follows is whether Green would accept a relatively low first-year number.
The answer given here is that he might not have to—if the Warriors can reallocate other money.
Moody’s $12.5 million could be the lever
That’s where Moses Moody enters the discussion.
Moody is on the books for $12.5 million next season. and the scenario assumes he isn’t likely to participate as he recovers from a “horrific knee injury.” If that $12.5 million could be absorbed into someone else’s midlevel exception or cap space. or if the Warriors trade for a less expensive player—keeping each saved dollar available to route toward Green—that changes the options.
Another version of the same lever hinges on making a trade that clears Moody’s full salary. If the Warriors incentivized a team to take Moody into their space by attaching a future draft pick. Moody’s full $12.5 million would come off the books. It would then be replaced by a veteran-minimum contract to fill the roster spot.
The upside of that approach is described in raw dollars: north of $10 million additional flexibility the Warriors would have to either give to Green or split between Green and James.
And then, the Anthony Davis question arrives.
Trading Jimmy Butler for Anthony Davis could be the second piece
From a money standpoint, the scenario says acquiring Anthony Davis is simpler than the Green and LeBron pieces.
The framework here is a trade of Jimmy Butler’s $56.8 million next season for Davis’ $58.5 million. Golden State would absorb the extra $1.5 million on Davis’ deal, and that would count toward the final number the Warriors are trying to stay under.
With that additional money included, the scenario suggests that if there is a Moody trade, the Warriors would now have about $8.5 million more to give Green in the first year.
In that case, Green’s first-year salary would climb toward roughly $20 million annually—the same deal size that Porziņģis just received.
Still, this version of the plan depends on how Moody is moved. The scenario notes it would require trading Moody without taking the same money back—or preferably any money back—then attaching a pick if needed. After that. it adds. more picks could be used to get Davis. then the Warriors could sign LeBron into the NTMLE.
Even with the math working, the decision depends on what LeBron does next
The scenario doesn’t claim this would be easy. The point here is narrower: the math on the Warriors pulling off a LeBron-AD coup remains viable, even after the Porziņģis deal.
But it’s not happening in a vacuum. The scenario points to a key deadline: LeBron James is reportedly meeting with the Lakers on Tuesday. If LeBron signs with the Lakers because they ultimately decide to offer him more money than the Warriors can, “this whole thing goes away.”
If that meeting doesn’t change the outcome in Los Angeles, the scenario argues Golden State remains in the game.
It even sketches alternative ways the Warriors might restructure pay—such as LeBron choosing to play for $10 million next season if Draymond wants more. or both players taking a low first-year salary with a player option in Year 2 that they can opt out next summer and then potentially re-sign for more.
The larger truth underneath all of it is simple: after Green declined his $27.7 million player option for 2026-27, the Warriors now have enough room to build a path that—while tight—can still accommodate LeBron at the $15 million annual number and leave room for Anthony Davis.
Whether they can finish the deal depends on the next meeting—and on whether the league’s biggest stars decide the math is worth it.
Golden State Warriors Draymond Green LeBron James Anthony Davis Kristaps Porziņģis Moses Moody non-taxpayer midlevel exception salary cap first apron NBA free agency