The Warriors’ Summer Swing and Miss: Chasing LeBron, Drafting Lendeborg, and Betting on Themselves

The Traffic Light Joke That Fooled Everyone

Picture this: It’s a blazing hot Las Vegas summer. Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr is sitting at a red light on the Strip. Someone in the car next to him starts filming and yells, "Did you get LeBron?!"

Kerr rolls down his window, grins, and shouts back: "Oh, we got him. Put that on Twitter."

The internet exploded. Fans went wild. Reporters scrambled. But here’s the truth: Kerr was just joking.

IMPORTANT POINT
Kerr later admitted: "I was having a little fun… I didn’t even think we were realistically in the running for LeBron. It never seemed serious to me despite all the reports."

The Real Story: A Serious Pitch That Wasn’t Enough

Even though Kerr knew the odds were long, the Warriors did make a real effort. Here’s what they brought to the table:

The Recruitment Team

• Stephen Curry — called LeBron to say "come play with me"
• Draymond Green — declined his player option to free up money, vacationed with LeBron
• Joe Lacob (owner) — sent voice notes to LeBron’s agent, Rich Paul
• Mike Dunleavy (GM) — made the formal pitch

What They Offered LeBron

• Hall of Fame pairing with Curry
• Veteran-friendly culture (they treat stars like royalty)
• Up to $15.1 million (the non-taxpayer mid-level exception)
• Proximity to family in LA
• Flexibility to fly back and forth to Southern California (like Green and Jimmy Butler do)

Why It Didn’t Work

• LeBron prioritized winning NOW — he chose the Philadelphia 76ers
• The Warriors’ roster wasn’t strong enough to convince him
• LeBron’s history battling the Warriors dynasty made the fit awkward
• No firm commitment from LeBron’s side to make a blockbuster trade

KEY INSIGHT
This was the Warriors’ third failed pursuit of LeBron in three years (two via trade, one in free agency). Team sources believe LeBron could never "get over the history" of their epic playoff battles.

The Backup Plan: Running It Back (With Tweaks)

Since LeBron wasn’t coming, the Warriors didn’t panic. They stuck to their plan: keep the core, stay flexible, bet on health.

What They Did Do

What They Didn’t Do

• No blockbuster trades for stars like Anthony Davis or Jaylen Brown
• No overpaying for role players (passed on Rui Hachimura at 2yr/$28M)
• No mortgaging future draft picks for "marginal upgrades"

THE PHILOSOPHY
Mike Dunleavy: "The path forward is to win. Never changes."

Steve Kerr: "Sometimes not making a move can be the best thing to do for your future. You keep stacking up good moves and eventually you pounce when you’re ready."

The Draymond Green Contract Dance

This was clever business:

1. Green opted OUT of his $27.7M player option before free agency
2. If LeBron came: Warriors would lower Green’s first-year salary, give him a long-term deal
3. LeBron didn’t come: Warriors gave Green back his exact player option — 1 year, $27.7M
4. Bonus: Green waived his no-trade clause and got his 15% trade kicker back

Translation: Warriors keep total flexibility. They can trade Draymond if a massive opportunity arises, but they have no plans to.

Draft Night Drama: The #11 Pick

The Scene

ESPN cameras caught owner Joe Lacob and GM Mike Dunleavy in a heated debate on the clock.

The Targets

• Plan A: Brayden Burries (Arizona guard) — Kerr’s favorite (he’s an Arizona alum)
• Problem: Bucks took Burries at #10 (right before Warriors’ turn)
• Plan B: Yaxel Lendeborg (Michigan wing) — next on their board

The Trade Offers

• Hornets: #14 pick + future pick
• Thunder: Swap #12 for #11 + future seconds

Lacob wanted to just pick Lendeborg. Dunleavy wanted to listen to offers. Lacob won.

Who Is Yaxel Lendeborg?

• 23-year-old 6’9" wing (older rookie = more ready)
• Redemption story: Was told he acted "like a jackass" at 2025 combine
• Went back to college, transferred to Michigan, won a national title, matured
• Impressed Kerr in film session: "I pretty much gave all the right answers… read his mind"
• Summer League MVP — played all 8 games, led team to title
• Kerr loves his passing: "He understands the power of just throwing the ball to the first open guy"

COACH’S VIEW
Kerr on Lendeborg: "He fits in so well… He’s fun-loving, loves life, loves the game. He loves passing. We’re going to have to work with him to be more aggressive."

The Big Picture: Stagnation or Strategy?

The Pessimist’s View

• 37-win team returning almost entirely intact
• Aging core: Curry (39), Green (35), Horford (39), Butler (37 coming off ACL)
• Injury questions at nearly every position
• Two starting wings (Butler, Moody) in lengthy knee rehabs
• Feels like "riding out the Curry era" without contention

The Optimist’s View

• Only $34.9M guaranteed for 2027-28 — massive future flexibility
• Asset chest full of future picks (didn’t trade them away)
• Better health luck expected (last year was unusually bad)
• Lendeborg could be immediate contributor + long-term piece
• Curry extension coming (eligible late August)
• 2027 offseason sets up for major splash (Dunleavy: "huge 2027 offseason")

Kerr’s Reality Check

"We are not in the [championship] conversation. So let’s see what we can do as a group to kind of reestablish what we stand for and how we operate and new beginnings in a lot of ways."

Summary: What Just Happened?

1. Warriors chased LeBron — made a real pitch, but never truly believed they’d get him
2. LeBron chose Philly — wanted a roster built to win now (Jaylen Brown trade sealed it)
3. Warriors didn’t panic — stuck to their guns: no bad trades, no overpays, keep flexibility
4. Ran it back with smart tweaks — Horford, Porzingis (tradeable deal), Melton, Lendeborg
5. Draymond’s contract = maximum future optionality
6. Bet on health + development — not a championship roster today, but building for 2027
7. Kerr’s challenge: "Tighten the ship," fix turnovers, find identity in the details

FAQ: Your Burning Questions Answered

Why didn’t the Warriors trade for Anthony Davis to get LeBron?

Simple: The Wizards (Davis’s team) had all the leverage. They knew Warriors needed Davis to get LeBron. Washington would’ve demanded massive picks + Jimmy Butler + a Davis extension. Warriors said "no thanks" — smart poker.

Is Yaxel Lendeborg too old for a rookie at 23?

Actually, that’s a plus! He’s NBA-ready physically and mentally. Spent 4 years in college, won a title, matured. Kerr compares him to Herbert Jones (Pelicans) — older rookies who contribute immediately.

Why did Draymond opt out then back in for the same money?

It was a placeholder. If LeBron came, they’d restructure for long-term security. Since he didn’t, Draymond gets his $27.7M and the Warriors get trade flexibility (no no-trade clause). Win-win.

Are the Warriors giving up on winning now?

No — they’re being honest. Kerr admits they’re "not in the championship conversation." But they believe health + development + 2027 assets = better path than mortgaging the future for a 2nd-round exit.

What’s the realistic ceiling for this team next year?

Play-in tournament to 6th seed if Curry/Green/Butler stay healthy. Floor: Lottery again. The wide gap between Thunder/Spurs and everyone else in the West makes predicting tough.

Final Thought

The Warriors didn’t swing for the fences this summer. They bunted — moved runners over, kept the lineup card clean, and waited for their moment in 2027.

Is it boring? Yes.
Is it smart? History says: maybe.
Is it what Curry deserves in Year 17? That’s the debate.

One thing’s certain: Steve Kerr isn’t worried. He’s excited to "reestablish what we stand for." And with a rookie who plays with joy, a coach who loves teaching, and a war chest waiting — the next chapter isn’t written yet.

"We don’t have to keep saying ‘championship, championship, championship’ every day… Can we build the foundation again?"
— Stephen Curry