Why Warriors Passed on Anthony Davis, Jaylen Brown Trades Detailed in New NBA Rumors

Amid a quiet offseason in which the Golden State Warriors have not signed an external free agent, they did at various times explore potential trades for Anthony Davis and Jaylen Brown that didn't come to pass.

Per The Ringer's Logan Murdock, while there was a "small contingent" of people in the Warriors' front office pushing for Davis, they opted not to take that path due to his injury history and desire for an extension.

Murdock added the Warriors had a chance to trade for Brown prior to the in-season deadline in February, but there was no "organizational consensus" that he would be the "right player" to lead the franchise whenever the post-Stephen Curry phase begins.

When the Warriors were thought to be in the LeBron James sweepstakes, there were rumors they hoped to bring in Davis in an attempt to convince the four-time MVP to sign with them.

Perhaps the most interesting nugget from that report is the Warriors could have potentially acquired Brown from the Boston Celtics during the season.

There was plenty of speculation about the Warriors potentially using Jimmy Butler's contract to help facilitate an in-season trade for someone like Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Brown's name didn't really pop up as a trade possibility during the season because the Celtics were playing well and he was having the best year of his career.

The Brown option fell off the board for the Warriors when he was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers earlier this month.

All indications for Davis are the Washington Wizards won't trade him and plan to present him with an extension offer when he becomes eligible on Aug. 6, so it's unclear if the Warriors would have been able to get him even if they tried.

Once James joined the Sixers, the Warriors finalized a one-year deal to bring back Draymond Green. The only four players they have signed or agreed to deals with this summer are internal free agents.

This leaves the Warriors in a difficult position going into next season with Curry still playing at a high level, but not a great core of talent around him to elevate themselves into being a strong playoff contender.

The best hope for the Warriors is Curry doesn't suffer any drop in performance going into his age-38 season, Butler returns from his torn ACL early in the season and looks good, and first-round pick Yaxel Lendeborg acclimates to the NBA quickly.