Warriors remain hot on LeBron James but could pursue mystery targets
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NBA teams can officially start negotiating with free agents beginning at 3 p.m. Tuesday.
The Warriors are “expected to top out at” around $15 million for LeBron James and are reportedly interested in acquiring Collin Sexton and Anfernee Simons.
Warriors' news from @TheSteinLine
– Porzingis expected to be back on a new deal before free agency period starts
– still interested in LeBron James
– expected to pursue names like Jock Landale, Anfernee Simons, Collin Sexton
– had interest in Kevin Porter Jr. before he picked up…
Since the offseason began, there has been plenty of speculation that the Warriors want to pair James with Steph Curry, Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler.
On June 18, ESPN NBA insider Anthony Slater revealed the Warriors are willing to offer James a non-taxpayer, mid-level, team-friendly deal of $15.1 million this offseason, and it appears that number will remain the same.
The Warriors’ reported offer would be the lowest offer James has received in free agency and would be the lowest annual salary he’s had since he signed a four-year, $60 million extension with the Cavaliers in 2007.
James is set to enter his 24th NBA season and will turn 42 in late December. Last season, James averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists for the Lakers, who reportedly have not made an offer to the unrestricted free agent.
The Warriors and James have a long history. He played Golden State in four consecutive NBA Finals with the Cavaliers beginning in 2015. The Warriors got the better of James by winning those matchups in 2015, 2017 and 2018.
If the Warriors don’t end up landing James and decide to go after Simons or Sexton, it would likely be a battle between the two guards, who became teammates in the middle of last season.
Last season, Simons started with the Celtics but was traded at the NBA deadline to the Bulls. He played a pivotal part in the Celtics’ offense while Boston was without Jayson Tatum for most of the season.
Simons averaged 14.2 points and 2.4 assists per game last season.
Sexton started the season with the Hornets after he was traded by the Jazz.
Sexton saw increased minutes when he landed in Chicago and started averaging more points per game (17.5) and rebounds (2.9).