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Warriors rveal plan to land LeBron James or Kawhi Leonard to play with Stephen Curry

The Golden State Warriors are expected to remain aggressive this offseason after another disappointing finish to the 2025-26 NBA season. They finished 37-45 this season and missed the playoffs after losing to the Phoenix Suns in the second play-in game.

Despite the result and an aging core built around Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Steve Kerr, the franchise does not appear interested in beginning a rebuild.

According to Tim Kawakami of The San Francisco Standard, the organization still believes it can add another superstar-level player to pair with Stephen Curry for another championship push.

Kawakami wrote that the Warriors are targeting another “big-time player” this summer and specifically mentioned LeBron James and Kawhi Leonard as potential possibilities. The report surfaced shortly after Golden State agreed to a new two-year contract with Kerr following weeks of uncertainty surrounding his future.

Golden State Warriors Want Another Superstar

GettyGolden State Warriors Head coach Steve Kerr

Kawakami detailed the Warriors’ long offseason discussions with Kerr and explained why the organization still believes it can compete for championships during Curry’s remaining years.

“The Warriors aren’t doing a reset,” Kawakami wrote. “They believe they can land another big-time player like Kawhi Leonard or LeBron James this offseason, which means Kerr is by far the best coach for the next few seasons.”

According to Kawakami, Golden State’s front office emphasized future roster possibilities during discussions with Kerr before he finalized his extension.

Kawakami also mentioned other scenarios the Warriors could explore, including keeping Kristaps Porzingis or potentially using a high draft pick in a trade package for Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo.

“Would Kerr want to watch somebody else coaching that Warriors lineup in next year’s playoffs?” Kawakami wrote. “I don’t think so.”

The Warriors are also entering Sunday’s NBA Draft Lottery with a small chance at landing a top-four selection. Golden State owns a 2% chance at the No. 1 overall pick.

Kawakami added that Kerr’s decision ultimately centered around continuing to coach Curry.

“It’s not so easy to walk away from Stephen Curry,” Kawakami wrote.

Kerr himself hinted at that relationship after Golden State’s season-ending loss on April 17.

“I would never walk away from Steph,” Kerr said. “But all this stuff has to be aligned and right.”

Stephen Curry and Steve Kerr Remain Central to Golden State Warriors Plans

GettyGolden State Warriors Head coach Steve Kerr and Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry

Golden State’s commitment to keeping Kerr signals that ownership still believes the current era can remain competitive with the right roster changes.

Kawakami wrote that Warriors owner Joe Lacob and general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. continue to prioritize maximizing Curry’s remaining years rather than pivoting toward a full rebuild.

Curry remains the centerpiece of the franchise despite Golden State missing the playoffs in two of the last three seasons. The Warriors last reached the NBA Finals during the 2021-22 season, when they defeated the Boston Celtics to win another championship.

Kawakami also noted that Golden State’s leadership group believes the current era still has value beyond championship expectations.

“You don’t keep a great thing together only if it’s destined to win more championships,” Kawakami wrote. “You keep it together because whatever comes next will be worse.”

The article described Kerr as energized by the possibility of coaching another high-level roster built around Curry.

“He definitely doesn’t want to coach a bad and old Warriors team,” Kawakami wrote.

Marcus Thompson II of The Athletic also described Kerr’s return as part of a larger organizational effort to reshape the Warriors around Curry’s remaining prime years.

“The Warriors have to reconsider some foundational tenets of their style,” Thompson wrote. “And Kerr, in the name of innovation and novelty, will have to stomach some things.”

Thompson added that Golden State’s leadership group still believes another star addition could change the direction of the franchise quickly.

“In the alternate universe where the Warriors land Giannis Antetokounmpo or Kawhi Leonard or LeBron James,” Thompson wrote, “Kerr is the coach you’d want.”

LeBron James’ future with the Los Angeles Lakers has become a growing topic around the league after the Lakers fell behind 3-0 against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference semifinals. James is currently playing without Luka Doncic, who remains sidelined with a hamstring injury.

Meanwhile, Leonard remains under contract with the Los Angeles Clippers after another injury-interrupted postseason run.

For now, the Warriors appear focused on extending their current championship window around Curry while searching for another superstar addition this offseason.