The Warriors find themselves constantly mentioned in the LeBron James free agency sweepstakes. The 41-year-old is yet to decide whether he will rejoin the Lakers, test free agency, or even potentially retire.
If he decides to truly test free agency, the Warriors are often named among the frontrunners to sign him. But if he does not, then the Warriors need to have a contingency plan.
According to NBA insiders Marc Stein and Jake L. Fischer, the Warriors are expected to pursue free agents Collin Sexton and Anfernee Simons, along with Jock Landale.
“League sources say that the Warriors, though, are planning to register interest in various other free agents while waiting to see how James’ highly anticipated free agency plays out.”
“Sources say that Golden State is among the teams expected to pursue veteran big man Jock Landale in addition to scoring guards such as Anfernee Simons and Collin Sexton,” wrote Stein and Fischer in their latest report.
Both former Bulls players are now expected to test free agency. If the Warriors are looking for an affordable guard in free agency who can also be a microwave scorer, either Collin Sexton or Anfernee Simons would address the team’s lack of shot creation behind Stephen Curry. However, they offer different skill sets and would impact the Warriors in different ways.
In 2025-26, Collin Sexton averaged 15.4 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game in the 2025-26 season while shooting 48.5% from the field and 40.1% from behind the three-point line.
Meanwhile, Anfernee Simons averaged 14.3 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 2.4 assists while going 44.0% from the field and 38.5% from beyond the arc.
When Curry sits, the Warriors lack consistent downhill scoring, which Sexton could supply. Instead of depending solely on jump shooting, his speed and attacking mindset enable him to put pressure on defenses, produce paint touches, and create free-throw opportunities. Thus, diversifying the Warriors’ offense.
His 40.2% three-point shooting in 2025-26 also suggests he can thrive playing off Curry’s gravity. Sexton can punish defenses that collapse on Curry or Jimmy Butler without having to control the ball every possession.
The downside is his size and defense. He would probably be vulnerable against a larger guard, as he is 6’3, and the Warriors’ switching tactics on defense might be more susceptible when he is on the court.
Simons is a perfect fit for the Warriors’ offensive philosophy. He can make his own jumper or score from catch-and-shoot opportunities, making him one of the league’s best movement shooters.
Butler and other slashers would have more driving lanes if he were paired with Curry, forcing defenses to respect multiple long-range threats. Despite averaging fewer points than Sexton in 2025–2026, Simons continued to be a productive perimeter scorer.
Simons, in contrast to Sexton, is more at ease playing both pick-and-roll and off-ball. Curry’s workload during the regular season would also be reduced by Simons’ shot creation.
Adding both to the team may not be feasible for the Warriors as they also await LeBron James’ decision, who will suddenly become the priority if he confirms he is not retiring. Furthermore, it may also not be financially possible to add both.
Sexton might be a cheaper free agent among the two as he is coming off a four-year, $70 million contract with the Cavaliers, while Simons is coming off a four-year, $100 million deal that he signed with the Trail Blazers. So, in terms of the expected salary, Sexton might agree to a figure that is more pocket-friendly for the Warriors.
Signing either of these players would also bring LeBron James closer to being convinced that his addition to this roster could make them championship contenders, which seems to be his priority.
Therefore, I would suggest the Warriors prefer signing Sexton over Simons if it comes down to the choice, since it is a low-risk move for a player with better productivity and efficiency. Moreover, they leave themselves with enough flexibility to convince LeBron James with an offer if he chooses to test free agency to its fullest extent.
