The Golden State Warriors will head into 2026, assuming nothing further changes, with much the same roster that the team had at the end of the season in April, when they petered out with 36 wins and a play-in tournament loss. While that seems to be bad news for star guard Stephen Curry, who is said to want an upgrade of talent on the roster, the reality is that the next decision Curry makes could transform how the Warriors look going forward.
That’s because Curry will be eligible to sign an extension with the team worth about $136 million over two years, beginning on August 29.
Curry has one year remaining on his deal, at $63 million, and while there is speculation that Curry could reject re-signing until he has some assurance that the Warriors will construct a better roster, the fact is, no one has more control over how good Golden State’s roster could be next year than Curry.
Stephen Curry Could Take a Lower Extension
That’s because Curry has the power to do something a little radical in a few weeks: He can give the Warriors a break and help them carve out a significant chunk of cap space in the summer of 2027 by accepting a reduced extension for the next two years. If, instead of taking $68 million per year next season, Curry took, say, $40 million, the Warriors could have about $100 million in cap space, depending on how they manage their cap holds.
Even if they gave Brandin Podziemski a reasonable extension–say, $16 million per year–the Warriors would be looking at the ability to sign a max-level player, plus a significant role player.
Bobby Marks: Warriors ‘Marquee Level’ Cap Space Team
That was a topic on “The Hoop Collective” from ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, in which co-host Bobby Marks brought up the Warriors in teams of free agency next year. He points out that about nine or 10 teams will have cap space.
“But the big one is going to be Golden State,” he said. “I mean, Golden State, we’re looking at marquee level, I know the Lakers were this year marquee level, marquee level teams to go out and have spending power. It’s going to be Golden State out there and a lot of it is going to depend on what happens with Stephen Curry.
“If Curry extends for that number, which is a whopper, it’s two for $136 million, that’s going to take away, like, they’re not going to have as much as they potentially could, even with (Jimmy) Butler and Draymond Green coming off the books. So, nine or 10 teams right now but of course, Golden State is the team we are going to circle here.”
Warriors Could Find a Star to Add With Stephen Curry
But one issue Marks also brought up for the Warriors–and one that Curry will want to know about before he signs an extension–is that there may not be all that many players for the Warriors to pursue next summer.
We’re likely to see the top candidates–Giannis Antetokounmpo, surely–sign extensions before free agency. Already, we’ve seen Dillon Brooks re-sign with the Suns. Michael Porter Jr. remains an uncertain one.
The Warriors will have the ability to pursue players in other ways, too, though. Having an acre of cap space and some draft picks on hand could help them make a push for restricted free agents, like the Lakers did this summer with Walker Kessler. The Warriors could also take a star-level salary back in trade, much as the Nets did with Julius Randle this summer.
Now, Curry is not sacrificing money for Julius Randle. But if he is willing to take less, the Warriors will be great position in 11 months.
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