ESPN’s Shams Charania has made it clear the Golden State Warriors would need to swing big if they want to land Wizards center Anthony Davis, and on Tuesday he laid out just how steep that price would be.
According to Charania, Washington is asking for multiple first-round picks, multiple first-round pick swaps and multiple second-round picks. That framework was discussed with injured star Jimmy Butler assumed to be the player heading out in the deal.
The problem for Golden State is that the Wizards already didn’t pay a premium to get Davis. Washington acquired him for a 2026 first-round pick that became the 30th selection, a 2030 first-round pick protected for the top 20 picks and set to turn into a second-rounder if it lands in the top 20, 2024 first-round pick AJ Johnson at No. 23 overall, plus essentially salary filler.
Johnson has barely made a dent in his first two seasons, and the return Washington would get for him now wouldn’t come close to a first-round pick. Even in the rosiest version of that deal, the Wizards would be looking at a pick in the 20s in 2030 and the 30th pick they already got for Davis. That kind of haul doesn’t line up with the kind of monster package Charania says they’re seeking now.
For the Warriors, the more reasonable path would be Butler and a 2027 first-round pick protected through the top 11. If Golden State is convinced James would follow in the wake of that move, an additional protected first-round pick swap would be worth considering. Anything beyond that starts to look reckless.
At this point, it’s increasingly possible the Warriors simply bring back the same group they had last season. Still, there’s another route for them to meaningfully upgrade the roster, and that’s a trade for Pelicans wing Trey Murphy III.
Murphy could cost as many as three first-round picks, which is no small price. But there are clear reasons he makes more sense for Golden State than Davis.
He doesn’t carry anything close to Davis’ injury history. He’s on a strong contract, three years and $87 million. And at 26, his value should stay high even a couple of years down the line.
From a salary standpoint, the Warriors would need to move either Kristaps Porzingis or Jimmy Butler to make it work. If Butler is the outgoing piece, the deal would likely also require Golden State to absorb Dejounte Murray’s bloated contract.
That’s the cost of landing an in-prime wing with three-level scoring ability.
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