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Warriors may have an underwhelming LeBron James alternative
LeBron James. Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

Warriors may have an underwhelming LeBron James alternative

By Ernesto Cova  |  Last updated Jul 7, 2026 11:23 AM ET
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The Golden State Warriors are prioritizing signing LeBron James in free agency.

Nevertheless, they're facing some steep competition for the four-time NBA champion, and there's no actual guarantee that he'll take his talents to the Bay Area. As such, general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. must consider some alternatives and potential avenues to improve the roster without James.

According to ESPN Warriors insider Anthony Slater, they might do so with DeMar DeRozan, who will soon become a free agent after working out his future with the Sacramento Kings.

The Warriors could pursue DeMar DeRozan

“I mean, he, to me, slots in now as one of the most important dominoes post-LeBron whenever LeBron makes his decision. I think a lot of the league is waiting on that,” Slater detailed on "SportsCenter." “But he’s gonna decide to not go to several teams who will still be looking for veteran wing help.”

For the Warriors, he'd be another veteran addition and some insurance for LeBron's sweepstakes.

“The Warriors I’ve already been told, it’s a guy they will look into at some point in the coming days, especially if they do not get LeBron James,” added Slater.

That said, with all due respect to DeRozan, he wouldn't move the needle as much as James for obvious reasons. He'd give them something similar to Jimmy Butler on offense, as he's an efficient mid-range guy who can't shoot threes. While he can certainly create his own shot and facilitate for others, spacing would be a bit of a concern.

DeRozan would be a massive upgrade for most teams as an overqualified sixth man, but it's hard to believe he'd boost any team's championship chances in his usual role at this point in his career.

Ernesto Cova
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Ernesto is a bilingual (English-Spanish) sports writer with over eight years of experience covering major leagues such as the NBA, NFL, and MLB. Ernesto’s work focuses on providing insightful, up-to-date coverage of sports, blending his expertise in sports psychology with a passion for analyzing player performance, team dynamics, and trade developments across various sports leagues

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