The Golden State Warriors are trying to make a bold run at LeBron James, and Anthony Davis is at the center of the pitch.
James, now 41, is an unrestricted free agent after finishing his 23rd NBA season, and Golden State is looking for a way to sell him on the Bay. One route, according to Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor, would be to land Davis first and use that move as part of the recruiting effort.
That idea got a reality check on Saturday from The Stein Line’s Marc Stein and Jake Fischer, who reported that Washington is not automatically preparing to move Davis anytime soon.
“Are the Wizards keeping Anthony Davis,” Stein and Fisher wrote. “It will be easier to answer that more definitively later this summer after Davis becomes eligible Aug. 6 for a contract extension that he clearly wants - especially after the new deal Trae Young landed - but sources say that Washington's looming acquisition of Ayton should not be automatically deemed a precursor to Davis' exit.
“With no shortage of double-big lineups popping up around the league, sources say Washington envisions Ayton playing alongside both Davis and Alex Sarr at times.”
So even with the noise around Davis, Washington does not sound eager to rush him out the door. The Wizards traded Jaden Hardy and two second-round picks to the Los Angeles Lakers, and there has already been speculation that Davis could wind up on the trade block quickly, even though he has not played a game for Washington and was inactive after being sent there from the Dallas Mavericks last year because of injuries.
For Golden State, that matters. Davis’ health issues would make him a gamble, but he would also make the Warriors’ sales pitch to James much stronger.
The Warriors remain on James’ list of possible offseason destinations, but without a Davis trade, they would have a much tougher time outbidding the rest of the field.
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