Warriors GM Says Team Is “Close to Finalizing” Roster as LeBron James’ Decision Looms

While LeBron James is yet to decide where he's ending up in 2026, Golden State Warriors' general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. seems to have tipped his hand. Recent reports suggest that LeBron James will announce where he intends to sign by the end of this week. And the GSW rumors are not new.

July speculation about James joining the Warriors faded when Golden State failed to land Anthony Davis—but recent hints suggest the possibility is resurfacing. Dunleavy recently made a statement about the Warriors roster during an interview at the NBA Summer League.

"I think we're getting close to finalizing our roster, so we're looking forward to that finish point."

While Dunleavy's interview, posted by GSW Ball Report on X, stopped short of confirming James' arrival but hinted at it. The timing aligns with reports of James' announcement of his decision, fueling speculation about a Warriors connection. The two events in proximity could indicate James joining Warriors point guard Steph Curry for the 2026 season.

With Curry and LeBron having played together on the Team USA roster during the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, fans have seen their explosive pairing. It is sure to make for an exciting season for San Francisco if LeBron makes the move to the Warriors.

Beyond the Warriors connection, July was filled with speculation about James' next roster move. NBA insider Shams Charania narrowed the options down to a list of five major teams, including the Philadelphia 76ers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Golden State Warriors.

While a Steph-LeBron pairing would be world-class, a return to the Cavs would be a homecoming for LeBron. But not everyone seems to agree with that sentiment.

Former Cavs star discourages LeBron James from going back to Cleveland

Ever since announcing that he no longer intends to play for the Los Angeles Lakers, many have wanted to see James go back home to the Cavaliers.

James was born and raised in Akron, Ohio, and drafted by his hometown team, the Cavs, in the 2003 NBA Draft. He ended up playing 11 seasons with the team. Ending his career where it all started just makes sense.

However, one of James' former teammates from Cleveland is surprisingly against the idea. During a recent episode of the Shump Street podcast, former Cavs guard and 2016 NBA champion Iman Shumpert made his position clear.

"Just don’t go to Cleveland trying to be happy about a win because you not going to win there," Shumpert bluntly said. "You’re not going to be happy. This is about legacy, the return tour, this is not about winning don’t you dare go over there think it’s rolling with the winners."

"I don’t know what’s up with them during the playoffs, don’t do it," Shumpert continued. "I’ve been on a team with LeBron when he was frustrated, and he felt like he got too much going on. He going to start shipping s*** out of there, man."

To Shumpert's point, James has had a history of exercising his authority in the league. LeBron, after 23 seasons in the league, has some influence over the front office's decisions to trade for and sign players.

With that in mind, there is a chance that the core unit the Cavs have built over the past couple of seasons might change drastically. The moment James becomes frustrated with the team, roster upheaval could follow. Making these changes will likely lead to chemistry issues in the locker room. Regardless, as LeBron is expected to announce his decision, it will likely reshape the 2026 title picture.