A $90 million superstar could be the Warriors' consolation prize after missing out on LeBron James

The Golden State Warriors' pursuit of LeBron James did not go the way the front office had planned, so the team now needs to find a new direction quickly. With James joining the Philadelphia 76ers and quality options drying up on the free agent market, the Warriors will likely need to make an aggressive move on the trade market. According to Bleacher Report's Dan Favale, Houston Rockets star Kevin Durant could be an ideal target for Golden State.

"Aside from 2030, the Warriors control their own first-round picks, so they have room to manoeuvre," Favale wrote. According to the writer, the team could juggle contracts such as Jimmy Butler's ($56.8 million), Moses Moody's ($12.5 million) or Brandin Podziemski's ($5.7 million) in a trade. The goal is clear: the team must do everything it can to maximize the final years of Stephen Curry's championship window, and landing a superstar is essential to that.

Although Durant ruled out a return to the Warriors in a 2025 interview, saying it would be too big a step back for his new team, the situation may have changed. The superstar is currently in a two-year, $90 million contract with the Rockets, which includes a player option for 2027. While Draymond Green is expected to remain with the team for around $28 million, a Durant-calibre signing would fundamentally shift the balance of power in the Western Conference.