On Monday’s episode of The Big Play Show Cleveland, I laid out everything I know regarding LeBron James’ free agency plans. During that broadcast, I spent a significant amount of time detailing the Golden State Warriors’ role in this sweepstakes. I stated bluntly: “They are more of a team that LeBron and Klutch are using for leverage and they are not a serious contender.”
That clip instantly blew up, being disseminated across the internet and going viral. But in the fast-paced news cycle, context often gets lost. To truly understand what is happening behind the scenes, you have to look at the board the way Klutch Sports is playing it—and it starts far away from the Bay Area.
The Washington Connection
Since May, I have consistently stated that the Washington Wizards are a major player in this chess match. The driving force here isn’t actually LeBron; it’s his Klutch stablemate, Anthony Davis, who is hunting for his next contract extension. Davis has established himself as an indispensable force for the Wizards, anchoring their identity. Meanwhile, his backcourt teammate, Trae Young—another high-profile Klutch client—has been actively recruiting AD to stay put in Washington. Young firmly believes they have something special brewing, and he wants his running mate locked down.
This is precisely why, prior to free agency and the NBA Draft, I floated hypothetical blockbuster trade ideas involving AD.
These scenarios weren’t pulled out of thin air; they reflect the exact types of high-level conversations being discussed behind closed doors by executives and agents trying to anticipate the next move.
Deconstructing the Leverage Play
So, what exactly is the “leverage” here? Let’s break down the financial and roster mechanics of the play.
The dialogue of LeBron James potentially joining the Golden State Warriors was never about LeBron actually packing his bags for San Francisco. The plan was never for him to become a Warrior. Instead, it was a highly calculated, brilliant chess move designed entirely to secure maximum financial security for Anthony Davis.
By keeping the Warriors in the conversation, Klutch created a dual-threat market. The messaging to interested suitors was clear: whoever gets AD has to immediately agree to a massive extension. This strategy effectively forced the Washington Wizards’ hand. Washington simply cannot afford to lose a superstar of Davis’ caliber for nothing. While they might hesitate to offer a full four-year max extension, this leverage virtually guarantees AD gets taken care of—likely on a lucrative two-year deal.
The beauty of this leverage play is that it created a win-win scenario across the board, even helping the Warriors’ existing ecosystem. Look at Draymond Green: he declined his $27.7 million player option to enter free agency, with the widespread expectation that he will re-sign with Golden State on a multi-year deal at a lower initial cap hit.
The smoke around LeBron kept the competitive urgency high, allowing everyone to get a piece of the pie.
The National Consensus Aligns
If I had my druthers, LeBron’s ultimate decision would come down to a fascinating three-way choice between the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the Warriors. But reality is starting to catch up to the leverage strategy.
What I broke on Monday perfectly matches what ESPN’s Anthony Slater reported later that same day. Slater noted that the Warriors internally hold a “low level of optimism” that James will actually choose them, though they are smartly keeping a roster spot open just in case.
The rest of the media landscape is quickly waking up to this reality, too. On his podcast, Spotify’s Bill Simmons echoed exactly what I’ve been saying: “And now it’s pretty clear they [Golden State] were being used as leverage as LeBron goes back to Cleveland… the Cleveland thing is done.”
When the dust settles, this free agency period will be remembered as a masterclass in modern NBA agency. The Warriors got their roster flexibility, Anthony Davis is positioned to get his extension, and LeBron James used the ultimate chess piece—his own destination—to dictate the market on his own terms.
