Warriors master offseason plan includes LeBron James and Anthony Davis

Ahead of a big storm, there are signs.The temperature drops.

Clouds gather.The air feels different.When it comes to the NBA, something similar is happening.For the last few weeks, there has been an eerie silence around LeBron James, who has been the center of the NBA’s universe for two decades.

Initial talks with the Lakers went nowhere.James has apparently gone radio silent.It’s the quiet before the storm.On Monday, the warning alarms were blaring.Draymond Green declined his $27.7 million player option with the Warriors to become a free agent.

His motive is clear.If Green re-signs with the Warriors for less money, they’d have the financial flexibility to offer James the $15.1 million non-taxpayer midlevel exception.To increase the atmospheric pressure, the Warriors are pursuing a deal to acquire Anthony Davis from the Wizards in exchange for Jimmy Butler, whose salaries ($58.5 million and $56.8 million, respectively) are nearly identical.The Warriors also have four unprotected first-round picks they could use to sweeten the pot on a trade involving Butler, who’s recovering from a torn ACL, though it’s unclear how much of their future they’d be willing to leverage for this.James and Davis won a championship together in 2020.

They’re good friends.They spent 5 1/2 seasons together.In other words, the Warriors are putting together a full-frontal blitz to lure James from Los Angeles, where he has spent the last eight years, his longest consecutive stretch in any city over his 23-season career.This is the once-in-a-lifetime storm no one saw coming.

It was talked about.It was imagined.

But no one actually thought it could make landfall.Not even James, who said on his 40th birthday that retiring with the Lakers “would be the plan.”Not even Green, who told the California Post last season, “I’ve always wanted to [play with James],” but added, “I don’t see a path to it.”The weather has shifted.The perfect conditions were created.

And now i...