New Warriors Rumors on Pursuit of LeBron James Contract, Giannis Trade in NBA Offseason

The Golden State Warriors have eyes for both Giannis Antetokounmpo and LeBron James, according to NBA reporter Jake Fischer, though the team "does not expect to have a shot at either" until the offseason.

According to that report, "Sources say that the Warriors naturally do plan to feature prominently in the trade mix for Milwaukee's Antetokounmpo if he truly becomes available via trade this offseason while also exploring the prospect of teaming James with Stephen Curry at last once LeBron becomes an unrestricted free agent on June 30."

Fischer also noted that the Warriors are "strongly" backing Jimmy Butler to return from his ACL tear and be an important contributor next season.

He reported: "Sources say that the Warriors, for example, have not shown any interest in trying to trade Butler for Dallas' Anthony Davis. I'm told, furthermore, that they don't plan to entertain any move involving Butler unless a truly top-tier trade target tries to push their way toward teaming up with Curry."

Antetokounmpo would obviously fit the "top-tier" bill. And while the 31-year-old superstar has yet to outright demand a trade, rumors have been percolating for months, and recent comments about his teammates suggested that the Greek Freak might be at his wit's end with the current situation in Milwaukee.

"We're not playing hard," he told reporters after Wednesday's 122-102 loss against the Oklahoma City Thunder. "We aren't doing the right thing. We're not playing to win. We're not playing together. Our chemistry's not there. Guys are being selfish, trying to look for their own shots instead of looking for the right shot for the team. Guys trying to do it on their own. At times, I feel like when we're down 10, down 15, down 20, we try to make it up in one play, and it's not going to work."

And then there's LeBron, who was in the news on Wednesday after an exposé into the Buss family by ESPN's Baxter Holmes revealed that team governor Jeanie Buss "began to turn" against James in recent years and had considered not extending the franchise superstar and even trading him.

It's hard to imagine James was thrilled with those revelations—though Jeanie Buss did deny that part of the report—and his relationship with the organization was already in question after the clear pivot to Luka Dončić as franchise cornerstone.

An offseason divorce wouldn't be shocking, in other words. Whether he would join forces with Curry remains to be seen, but the Warriors certainly seem interested. More importantly, the Warriors need to make some big moves to maximize the remaining years they have with Curry—the current group, even before Butler's injury, wasn't a genuine title contender.