Warriors predicted to miss out on LeBron James, sign $73M future Hall of Famer, 6-time All-Star

The Golden State Warriors are approaching the end of the summer, which means a LeBron James decision could be coming sooner rather than later. However, it remains unclear where James will continue his NBA career.

The Warriors have been viewed as a potential landing spot since the beginning of free agency after making it clear they wanted to pair Steph Curry, Draymond Green, and James on the same team. Now, it appears the Warriors do not believe they are in a strong position to land James.

“I'm kind of hearing today that the Warriors internally kind of feel like they're a dark horse at this point, that LeBron James is probably going out east,” ESPN insider Marc Spears said.

There could very well be a scenario where the Warriors are unable to sign James. If that happens, CBS Sports’ Robby Kalland believes Golden State will turn its attention toward future Hall of Famer DeMar DeRozan.

“Because they have the mid-level to offer, the Warriors feel like the most likely landing spot for DeRozan if they miss out on James. They need another player who can create for himself. And while DeRozan doesn't raise the ceiling the same way James does, he would help them raise their floor,” Kalland wrote.

DeRozan is available in free agency after his time with the Sacramento Kings came to an end. Sacramento was unable to find a trade partner for DeRozan, leading the two sides to agree on a release.

“The Sacramento Kings have waived DeMar DeRozan, the team announced Monday, making the six-time All-Star one of the top free agents on the market. DeRozan had a partial guarantee on his contract for next season, but he and Sacramento worked on his release to allow him to find a new home. Multiple contenders are expected to have interest in the veteran guard,” ESPN wrote.

The Warriors are in need of a veteran wing after Jimmy Butler’s injury concerns. While DeRozan does not provide elite defense, he remains one of the league’s most reliable scorers, which is an important trait to have alongside Curry.

DeRozan was set to earn $73 million on his contract with the Kings before being released. The Warriors understand what DeRozan brings to the table, making Golden State an appealing destination for the 17-year veteran. As a backup plan if they miss out on James, DeRozan would not be a bad option for the Warriors.

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