NBA: Are the Warriors ready to pull a mad move for LeBron or Kawhi?

Golden State’s moment of truth

Some franchises can afford to wait, rebuild slowly and plan for the future. The Golden State Warriors are not one of them. With Stephen Curry still on the roster, time is the enemy and the situation is urgent.

Every season that passes drags an era closer to its end, and at this point sitting on the fence already counts as losing. So one idea is gaining steam fast: go all in, and really mean it.

LeBron or Kawhi, the fantasy starts to feel real

On paper it reads like fan fiction. Curry alongside LeBron, or Curry alongside Kawhi. Two legends, two very different skill sets, two enormous gambles. Given where the Warriors actually are, though, it is not as crazy as it first sounds. The question is no longer whether it is risky. It is what they have left to lose.

The Warriors are expected to “go hard” for LeBron James or Kawhi Leonard this summer, Tim Kawakami says.

The UNCTION 👴🏼 pic.twitter.com/5YFgul6pAl

— Basketball Forever (@bballforever_) March 30, 2026

A fragile roster that needs a kickstart

Look at the roster and the picture is brutal. Few players are locked in, the injuries have been major and uncertainty is everywhere. Even pillars like Draymond Green and Kristaps Porzingis are not guaranteed to stay, and behind Curry there is no longer the spine that used to carry Golden State.

The result is a team stuck between cycles, too weak to chase a title and too ambitious to tank. The worst of both worlds.

The plan: sacrifice everything for one last dance

The front office pitch is blunt. Cut payroll, drop under the luxury tax, win back cap flexibility, then use that space to chase a superstar. It is all in with no apologies, even if it means huge risk, even if it mortgages the future. The aim is clear: give Curry one last real shot.

Warriors have $193 million worth of salaries sidelined right now.

Brutal. pic.twitter.com/492UJG5ZGJ

— HoopsHype (@hoopshype) March 14, 2026

Kawhi Leonard, the risky bet

Kawhi is the trickiest case. Between his injury history and the contract mess with his current team, nothing is guaranteed. On the floor, though, the fit is tempting: elite defense, isolation scoring and a Finals pedigree, a player who could slot in next to Curry perfectly. If he is healthy. That remains the big if.

LeBron James, the ultimate dream

The other option is even juicier: LeBron to Golden State. It is a rumor that has floated for years, a collective daydream, and now the context has shifted. LeBron will be a free agent. He has already shared a court with Curry, notably at the Olympics, and he has never hidden his respect. At this stage of his career, one last crack at a title actually makes sense.

Picture it. LeBron and Curry, one last dance, one final run. Pure NBA theatre.

The deciding factor: the financial sacrifice

Everything hinges on one question. Are LeBron or Kawhi willing to take a pay cut? The Warriors’ plan depends on it, on a reasonable deal in the region of the mid-level exception. Without that, nothing moves and the whole thing gets shaky.

A risky bet that still makes sense

Yes, it is dangerous. Age, injuries and instability are all flashing warning lights. For Golden State, though, doing nothing might be worse. Watching a dynasty fade and letting Curry finish without a real last shot is almost unthinkable for a franchise like this.

A summer that will change everything

It all plays out in a few months. Decisions, signings, sacrifices, and maybe a trade that flips the franchise’s direction. One thing is clear: the Warriors do not want to fade out quietly. They want to swing hard one last time.

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