Draymond Green's $27M Decision Gives Warriors Major Boost to Pursue LeBron James & Anthony Davis

The Golden State Warriors front office's desire to acquire LeBron James has been one of the biggest stories of the 2026 offseason. Talks of pairing him with Stephen Curry in the Bay Area may have seemed unrealistic just a few months ago. But now, Draymond Green's decision to enter free agency has brought that possibility to the table.

Green has declined his 2026-27 player option worth over $27 million, which not only puts the Warriors in a great position to get James, but also allows them to acquire another star familiar to the King.

That other star is Anthony Davis, who played alongside James with the Lakers from 2019 to 2025 and won an NBA championship in 2020. If the Warriors successfully acquire Davis, the belief is that it would give James even more motivation to choose Golden State. In Year 24, the four-time NBA champion's biggest priority is joining a team that can immediately contend for a fifth championship.

Naturally, such a massive addition would come at a cost. To acquire Davis from the Washington Wizards, the Warriors would likely have to include Jimmy Butler in the deal.

Butler is entering the final year of his two-year, $120 million contract, making him the ideal salary-matching piece for Davis, who is set to earn $58 million in 2026-27. However, the Wizards would likely ask for more than just Butler. The six-time All-Star is still recovering from the ACL injury he suffered on January 19, which could lower his trade value.

Considering there is no clear timeline for his return and that he'll most likely be 37 at the time, the Wizards could ask for draft assets.

Washington, with Trae Young as its new franchise cornerstone, is building around a younger core. As a result, draft picks would likely be the real asking price in any deal. Butler, meanwhile, would primarily be included to make the salaries work, with his veteran leadership and NBA Finals experience serving as a bonus.

For the Warriors, the move creates yet another reason for LeBron James to consider Golden State. Not only would he get the chance to reunite with one close friend in Davis, but he'd also have the opportunity to team up with several familiar faces.

What Happens to Draymond Green This Offseason?

Declining his player option makes Green an unrestricted free agent. However, that doesn't necessarily mean he's preparing to test the market.

The more likely explanation is that he recognized an opportunity to help the Warriors by sacrificing financially. Doing so would give Golden State greater flexibility to make a splash in free agency.

Green has spent his entire NBA career with the Warriors after they selected him in the second round of the 2012 NBA Draft, cementing his status as a franchise legend. His veteran leadership, defensive versatility, and unselfish play would be invaluable to a team looking to bring in multiple stars this summer.

Additionally, he and James are good friends. If part of Golden State's pitch to the 41-year-old star is that he can win a title with people with whom he has a relationship, then keeping Green is paramount.

If the Warriors manage to trade for Davis and then sign James in free agency, they could suddenly find themselves back in championship contention. A core of Green, Curry, James, and Davis would undoubtedly be one of the oldest in the league, but if healthy, it would also be one of the most formidable. It could very well dominate the Western Conference, something Golden State has been trying to do for years.