The Golden State Warriors’ long-standing interest in Anthony Davis remains more theoretical than tactical.
Despite internal discussions about the Dallas Mavericks star, Golden State is not actively pursuing a trade for the 10-time All-Star, according to multiple NBA insiders — largely because there is no clear, realistic pathway to acquire him.
NBA insider Marc Stein reported that while the Warriors have “held a longstanding fondness” for Davis, the combination of his contract, injury history, and Dallas’ lack of interest in Golden State’s available assets has effectively stalled any momentum toward a deal.
“The Warriors have held a longstanding fondness for Davis and I’m told that they have indeed had some internal discussions about pursuing him,” Stein wrote, “but they do not appear to be actively doing so six-ish weeks out from the deadline.
“Golden State, for starters, has no realistic pathway to acquire Davis unless it is also willing to part with Jimmy Butler or franchise fixture Draymond Green,” Stein added. “I’m likewise told that Davis’ contract — with potentially two years still left on it if the 32-year-old exercises his $62.7 million player option in 2027-28 — and the injury woes he has endured since becoming a Maverick have thrust a measure of pause into Golden State’s deliberations.”
Since arriving in Dallas as part of the Luka Dončić trade last February, Davis has played in just 25 of the Mavericks’ 65 games.
Dallas Unimpressed by Warriors’ Trade Assets
Stein’s report came after NBA insider Chris Haynes reported the harsh reality on NBA on Amazon Prime that while Golden State has explored the idea of pursuing Davis, Dallas is not enthusiastic about what the Warriors have to offer.
“I was told they’re contemplating making a case to acquire Anthony Davis,” Haynes said. “And with that being said, I was told that Dallas was not that fascinated with what Golden State has on its books.”
That blunt assessment underscores the central tension of Golden State’s latest swing at relevance: the desire to make a championship-altering move colliding with the reality of limited assets, complicated contracts, and a shrinking window around Stephen Curry’s prime.
Anthony Davis Contract, Age and Injury History Complicate Talks
The financial obstacle is enormous.
Davis will earn $58.5 million next season and holds a $62.8 million player option for 2026-27. He is also eligible for a four-year, $275 million maximum extension in August.
Matching that salary is difficult. Matching Dallas’ incentive structure is even harder.
Butler is the only Warriors player whose contract can absorb Davis’ salary in a direct swap, but Butler is older, carries durability concerns of his own, and does not align with a Mavericks roster built around 19-year-old rookie phenom Cooper Flagg and younger long-term pieces.
Jonathan Kuminga and Brandin Podziemski are more age-aligned, but their combined salaries fall far short of what is required and neither of them appeals to be a foundational piece that can headline a package for a star.
Warriors Unwilling to Sacrifice Core Pieces
GettyDraymond Green and Stephen Curry hope to end their respective careers with the Golden State Warriors.
ClutchPoints reporter Brett Siegel further reported that Golden State is not inclined to include either Green or Kuminga in a Davis package.
“If the Warriors truly look to pursue Anthony Davis, they would do so attempting to put something together around Jimmy Butler, while maintaining Jonathan Kuminga for separate additions,” Siegel wrote on X. “Golden State isn’t trading Draymond Green unless Steph [Curry], [Steve] Kerr, and [Joe] Lacob all green-light it.”
While the Warriors control up to four tradable first-round picks, that alone does not appear sufficient to move Dallas.
The Mavericks would likely demand a foundational piece to pair with Flagg if they ever entertained parting with Davis — something Golden State simply does not have available without dismantling its own core.
“If the Warriors did really want to make a true play at Anthony Davis,” Haynes said, “they would likely have to acquire more assets or involve another team.”
The Harsh Truth for a Fading Dynasty
For now, that reality has pushed the idea of a Davis trade back into the realm of internal discussion rather than active pursuit — another example of how the Warriors’ ambitions remain constrained by the limits of their roster, their contracts, and time itself.
As Curry’s window narrows, Golden State’s options do as well.
And Davis, once a tantalizing solution, increasingly looks like a reminder of how difficult it has become for the Warriors to land the kind of transformational star they once attracted with ease.
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