The Golden State Warriors are not rebuilding. Let that sink in. After a 37-45 season, after missing the playoffs for the second time in three years, after Jimmy Butler tore his ACL and Stephen Curry battled knee issues, the Warriors are not hitting the reset button.
According to Tim Kawakami of The San Francisco Standard, the Warriors believe they can land another “big-time player” this offseason. And they’re thinking big. Really big.
“The Warriors aren’t doing a reset. They believe they can land another big-time player like Kawhi Leonard or LeBron James this offseason, which means Kerr is by far the best coach for the next few seasons.”
LeBron James. Kawhi Leonard. Giannis Antetokounmpo. These are the names being discussed in conversations between Steve Kerr and the Warriors’ front office. These are the players who could extend the dynasty for one more run.
The Warriors just locked in Kerr on a two-year extension, making him the highest-paid coach in the NBA at roughly $17.5 million annually. That decision, according to Kawakami, was driven by one factor above all others: Stephen Curry.
“It’s not so easy to walk away from Stephen Curry.”
Kerr himself said it after the season ended: “I would never walk away from Steph. But all this stuff has to be aligned and right.”
Now, the alignment is happening. The Warriors have their coach. They have their superstar. And they have a mandate to build a contender around Curry before it’s too late.
Let’s break down why the Warriors are targeting LeBron, Kawhi, and Giannis, how they could realistically acquire one of them, and whether this is a brilliant final act or a desperate gamble.
The Kerr Extension: Why It Changes Everything
Let’s start with the most important signing of the Warriors’ offseason – and it’s not a player.
Steve Kerr agreed to a two-year extension that will keep him in Golden State through the 2027-28 season. He’ll remain the NBA’s highest-paid coach at around $17.5 million per year.
This was not a foregone conclusion. Kerr’s contract expired at the end of the season. There were weeks of speculation about his future. ESPN was reportedly pursuing him for a broadcasting role. He could have walked away.
But Kerr chose to stay. And according to Kawakami, his decision was based on one thing: the belief that the Warriors can still win.
“Would Kerr want to watch somebody else coaching that Warriors lineup in next year’s playoffs? I don’t think so.”
Kerr isn’t staying to coach a rebuilding team. He’s staying because the front office convinced him that they can add another superstar to pair with Curry.
That changes everything.
The Targets: LeBron, Kawhi, and Giannis
Let’s go through the three names Kawakami mentioned.
LeBron James: The most obvious target. LeBron is an unrestricted free agent this summer. He’s 41, but he just carried the Lakers past the Rockets in the first round with a vintage performance. He’s still a top-10 player when healthy. And he has a relationship with Curry and Kerr from the Olympics. The fit is perfect. The legacy narrative is irresistible.
Kawhi Leonard: The Clippers star has a player option for next season. He could become a free agent. He’s younger than LeBron (he’ll be 35 in June), and he’s a two-time Finals MVP. But he’s also injury-prone. He played just 45 games this season. The risk is higher, but the upside is enormous.
Giannis Antetokounmpo: The longest shot of the three. Giannis is under contract with the Bucks, but there have been whispers about his future in Milwaukee. The Bucks missed the playoffs this season. Tensions have been reported. If Giannis becomes available, the Warriors would have to put together a massive trade package – likely including Jonathan Kuminga, Brandin Podziemski, Moses Moody, and multiple first-round picks.
Kawakami also mentioned the possibility of keeping Kristaps Porzingis or using a high draft pick in a trade package. The Warriors have a 2% chance at the No. 1 overall pick in Sunday’s draft lottery. It’s not likely, but it’s possible.
The LeBron Scenario: Why It Makes Sense
Let’s focus on LeBron, because he’s the biggest name and the most realistic target.
LeBron is an unrestricted free agent. He can sign with any team. The Lakers are about to get swept by the Thunder. LeBron’s patience with Los Angeles might be wearing thin.
The Warriors can offer him:
Stephen Curry, the greatest shooter in NBA history
Steve Kerr, one of the greatest coaches in NBA history
A ready-made contender that just needs one more piece
The chance to write the most poetic final chapter in NBA history
Imagine LeBron and Curry running a two-man game. Imagine LeBron in transition, kicking out to Curry for a trailing three. Imagine the two greatest players of their generation, finally on the same side.
The money is complicated, but not impossible. The Warriors would need to move Jimmy Butler’s 56.8millioncontract(he′srecoveringfromatornACLandwon′tbereadyforthestartoftheseason).TheywouldneedtoworkwithDraymondGreenonhis56.8millioncontract(he′srecoveringfromatornACLandwon′tbereadyforthestartoftheseason).TheywouldneedtoworkwithDraymondGreenonhis27.6 million player option. They would need to get creative.
But where there’s a will, there’s a way. And the Warriors have the will.
The Kawhi Scenario: The Safer Bet?
Kawhi Leonard is a different kind of risk.
When he’s healthy, he’s a top-5 player. He’s a two-time Finals MVP. He’s an elite two-way wing who can guard the opposing team’s best player and score 30 points on the other end.
But “when he’s healthy” is doing a lot of work. Kawhi has played just 45 games this season. He missed significant time with knee issues. The Clippers have been unable to rely on him.
The Warriors would be betting that Kawhi can stay healthy for one more playoff run. It’s a gamble, but it’s a gamble worth taking if the alternative is doing nothing.
The Giannis Scenario: The Home Run Swing
Giannis Antetokounmpo is the best player of the three. He’s younger. He’s healthier. He’s a two-time MVP and a Finals MVP.
But he’s also the hardest to acquire. He’s under contract with the Bucks. Milwaukee would have to decide to trade him. And the Warriors would have to put together a package that no other team can match.
That package would likely include:
Jonathan Kuminga
Brandin Podziemski
Moses Moody
Multiple first-round picks (at least three)
Pick swaps
It’s a monster haul. But for Giannis, it might be worth it.
What Marcus Thompson Said: Kerr Will Have to Stomach Some Things
Marcus Thompson II of The Athletic added another layer to this discussion.
“The Warriors have to reconsider some foundational tenets of their style. And Kerr, in the name of innovation and novelty, will have to stomach some things.”
Translation: if the Warriors add a superstar like LeBron or Giannis, the offense will change. It won’t be the same motion-based, ball-moving system that Kerr has perfected. It will be different. And Kerr will have to adapt.
But Thompson also noted that Kerr is the coach you’d want for that challenge.
“In the alternate universe where the Warriors land Giannis Antetokounmpo or Kawhi Leonard or LeBron James, Kerr is the coach you’d want.”
The Joe Lacob Factor: Ownership Is All-In
Let’s not forget about the man signing the checks.
Joe Lacob, the Warriors’ owner, has never been afraid to spend. He’s paid the luxury tax year after year. He’s built a dynasty. He wants to win, not rebuild.
According to Kawakami, Lacob and general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. are aligned on this: maximize Curry’s remaining years. Don’t waste them.
“You don’t keep a great thing together only if it’s destined to win more championships. You keep it together because whatever comes next will be worse.”
That’s a sobering thought. The Warriors know that the post-Curry era will be dark. They’re trying to delay it as long as possible.
The Lakers’ Vulnerability: Why LeBron Might Actually Leave
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: LeBron’s current situation.
The Lakers are down 3-0 to the Thunder. They’re about to get swept. Luka Doncic is hurt. The roster is expensive and flawed. The future is uncertain.
LeBron has never been afraid to change teams. He left Cleveland. He left Miami. He left Cleveland again. He’s not sentimental about these things.
If he believes that Golden State gives him a better chance to win – and a better chance to write a fitting final chapter – he’ll go.
The 2% Chance: What If the Warriors Win the Lottery?
The Warriors have a 2% chance at the No. 1 overall pick in Sunday’s draft lottery. It’s not likely, but it’s possible.
If they win, everything changes. They could draft a franchise-changing prospect. Or they could trade the pick as part of a package for a superstar.
A top pick would make the Warriors’ trade package significantly more attractive. It could be the difference between landing Giannis and striking out.
The Golden State Warriors are not rebuilding. They’re not resetting. They’re reloading.
They have Stephen Curry. They have Steve Kerr. And they believe they can land another superstar this offseason.
LeBron James. Kawhi Leonard. Giannis Antetokounmpo. These are the names on their radar. These are the players who could extend the dynasty for one more run.
Is it a gamble? Absolutely. Is it desperate? Maybe. But it’s also the only path forward for a franchise that refuses to accept that the era is over.
The Warriors have made bold moves before. They signed Kevin Durant in 2016. They traded for Andrew Wiggins. They built a dynasty when everyone said they couldn’t.
They’re about to do it again.
And if they succeed, the NBA will have to deal with one more superteam.
This time, with Stephen Curry and LeBron James on the same side.
