With rumors swirling about the Golden State Warriors being interested in a trade with the Washington Wizards for Anthony Davis that would have to include Jimmy Butler, the star forward’s agent has now addressed them.

Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor got the Butler trade rumor going when he reported Golden State wanted to trade for Davis and added that unloading Butler’s contract in the deal was necessary.

The ultimate goal for the Warriors, O’Connor says, is to acquire Davis and LeBron James to form a “Big Four” with Steph Curry and Draymond Green.

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However, according to Butler’s agent, the Warriors have told the six-time All-Star, who is recovering from a torn ACL, they plan on moving forward with him after he recovers.

“I don’t want to get into a constant cycle of responding to this stuff,” Butler’s agent, Bernie Lee, told ESPN. “But I will say the Warriors – from ownership to the front office to the coaches and medical staff – have been resolute in their plan to support Jimmy through his rehab and have him return to form and continue together on a quest to compete for a championship. That remains true as I respond to you today.”

Lee concluded his statement by saying that Butler’s focus is “getting back between the four lines and doing his part,” and Butler will do that “with the Warriors.”

As ESPN’s Anthony Slater notes, the Warriors have remained steadfast in their stance that Butler won’t be traded since last year’s deadline.

Jimmy Butler’s reaction to past trade rumors

Butler has voiced his desire to stay with the Warriors and finish out his career with the team as recently as a few days ago, but he also understands a trade is always a possibility.

“You talking about being traded? It wouldn’t be the first time. [But] it’s good to know that I’m wanted here. If I get traded, I get traded. Their job is to win. Can I help them do that? Yes,” Butler told Slater on June 27.

On the surface, it would appear Butler and the Warriors are keen on staying together, but we know full well that things aren’t always as they seem, so it’s possible Golden State is indeed looking to unload Butler and put together a foursome of LeBron, Davis, Curry and Green.

Warriors positioning for pursuit of LeBron?

It certainly seems like the Warriors are positioning themselves to go after James.

On Monday, Green decided to decline his $27.7 million option, which ESPN’s Shams Charania noted “delivers Golden State time and space to pursue Davis with the Wizards and convince James to join Stephen Curry, Green and his old Lakers championship teammate in the bay.”

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The last we heard about LeBron and the Los Angeles Lakers is the two sides haven’t spoken recently and the Lakers haven’t made an offer to James.

That is reportedly expected to change with Golden State seemingly set to make a push for James, but ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reports that the disconnect with James and the Lakers seems to be coming from the former’s side because James “has been unavailable for a meeting with the Lakers.”

As long as things stay that way, LeBron’s return to the Lakers is unlikely.

Back in 2016, it would have been rather unfathomable to think about LeBron James joining forces with Steph Curry and Draymond Green in Golden State. However, that’s exactly the kind of push the Golden State Warriors appear to be making.

According to a report from NBA insider Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo Sports, the Warriors are hoping to lure LeBron to Golden State by acquiring one of his longtime teammates.

LeBron and AD in Golden State?

On Sunday, O’Connor cited multiple sources as he reported that the Warriors are attempting to acquire Anthony Davis in a trade with the Washington Wizards and then sign James as a free agent. The trade, O’Connor reports, would include Jimmy Butler as well as draft capital.

“Sources say the Warriors hope adding Davis would help lure LeBron from Los Angeles to the Bay Area once free agency officially opens Tuesday. The pitch would be simple: reunite with AD, team up with Steph Curry and Draymond Green, play for Steve Kerr, and chase one more championship with a roster of legends,” O’Connor wrote on Sunday.

This would not be the first time that James united with Curry and Kerr, as the trio won a gold medal together at the 2024 Olympic Games along with Davis. It worked out then, and would certainly be a high-profile move if the Warriors could pull it off.

‘Real Doubt’

While this would undeniably be the biggest storyline of the offseason, O’Connor reports that there is “real doubt” the Warriors could actually pull this off, especially after the Wizards already indicated that they planned to keep Davis and Butler does not appear to fit into their plans.

“Davis is on track to become eligible for a four-year, $275 million extension on Aug. 6. If Davis were traded, his extension clock would reset. Under the collective bargaining agreement, he would be ineligible to sign that full max deal until six months after the new trade becomes official,” O’Connor explains.

“Washington’s actions are those of a team looking to win now. Would a 37-year-old Butler returning from injury really have all that much appeal to the Wizards? Or would the Warriors need Butler to be routed to a third team, with a different All-Star-caliber player going back to Washington?”

There’s also a chance that other teams could be interested in acquiring Davis as well, as O’Connor notes, which would complicate matters for Golden State.

Regardless, it’s a fun scenario to ponder as NBA free agency kicks off.

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