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The Golden State Warriors are entering the danger zone.
While the seven-time NBA champions still have plenty of time to strike gold this summer, their superstar options are now limited. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kawhi Leonard are among the standout contributors who are off the board in early July.
Luckily for the Dubs, unappreciated ex-Los Angeles Lakers star and four-time NBA champion LeBron James is still available, and former Miami Heat guard Mario Chalmers believes the Warriors will ultimately outbid the Heat for the 22-time All-Star this summer (Miami is among his top suitors).
"I really think it’s between Golden State and Miami just by knowing Bron and being his teammate before and the way he approaches the game,” Chalmers said. “Those are the two spots where I think he has the best chance of winning. I want to say Miami, but I have a gut feeling that it might be Golden State.”
It goes without saying that landing James would give the Lakers the firepower they need to take things up a notch in the loaded Western Conference. The 41-year-old is still an awe-inspiring offensive contributor who can embrace a heavy load on that end of the floor if necessary.
James’ ability to take matters into his own hands and operate as the near-unstoppable moving force that’s helped him carve out a Hall of Fame career for himself would make life far easier for Stephen Curry in the Bay.
The good news for the Warriors is that a return to the Lakers is no longer feasible for James, as ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne recently detailed why the four-time Finals MVP decided to explore other options this summer.
“After the season, sources close to James said the most important factor in him re-signing would be how the Lakers approached him,” Shelburne wrote Monday.
“He might have been willing to take a pay cut from the $52.6 million he'd made the season before, sources said, if the Lakers explained how they planned to reallocate the money. They never did, and James never made himself available to meet. He had been a priority enough times in his career to know when he wasn't one.”
Essentially, James no longer feels valued by the Lakers following the 2025-26 campaign, prompting him to search for a team that would appreciate him and everything he brings to the table at this stage of his career.
Obviously, Chalmers believes the Warriors could be that team, but the bidding war for the 23-year veteran is nowhere near finished.
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