Warriors Hit With Bad News Before Free Agency Amid Steph Curry Contract Talks

Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors appear ready to give it a go for an 18th time. This legendary partnership is not ready to end yet. 

According to reports, Curry not only wants to finish his career as a Warrior but wants to play at least 20 NBA seasons. That means the Warriors have three more years, at the minimum, to recapture their winning ways under their two-time NBA MVP.

But if the Warriors want to flip the switch after years of finishing in the play-in tournament, they’ll need to promptly address Curry’s future with the franchise and what he desires heading into Year 18.

Curry may be pushing age 40 and past his marvelous peak, but many would agree he is still more than capable of helping lead the Warriors back to contender status even if he is not the team’s first option. 

The Warriors perhaps don’t need a rebuild; they need to retool. But time is limited. And perhaps so are the decisions the Warriors can make. 

According to San Francisco Chronicle’s Sam Gordon, a massive percentage of the Warriors’ payroll is tied to their Big Three. That potentially puts the Warriors at a major disadvantage in trying to make moves this offseason.

“The Warriors start their offseason with 83.2% of their 2026-27 payroll committed to Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green, who has a $27.7 million player option. Pathways for growth, per Dunleavy, will open this summer with internal improvement, though he also said “we’re probably always in the conversation” for trades involving standout veterans,” Gordon wrote.

Stephen Curry Isn’t Getting Any Young, and the Warriors Have to Respond

The Curry-era in Golden State has felt like a ticking time bomb the last few years. Certainly since the Warriors won their last NBA championship.

Compared to where they were as champions in 2022, the Warriors appear a far-cry from their old selves. They truly look like a dynasty that has faded into the sunset.

Sure, they still possess Curry and Green, two absolute winners, but Golden State cannot expect next season’s result to be any different than the last unless they make borderline sweeping changes.

There is some good news on that front.

According to multiple NBA insiders, the Warriors will make a strong run at acquiring at least one of either LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kawhi Leonard — three stars in their 30s but all perfect on-paper fits next to Curry.

But that’s where things become tricky for the front office. Onboarding even one of those stars would require general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. to roll out some serious maneuvering. From options to trade assets, sign-and-trade possibilities, restructuring player contracts and more.

“But we’ll look at everything,” Dunleavy said Friday, maintaining the Warriors will explore their options this offseason. “If there’s offers to the pick to move up, move back, trade for a veteran player that could help us, we’ll definitely look at all that stuff. It’s early in the process right now.”

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It All Comes Back to Their Franchise Centerpiece

The Warriors can sense the pressure. They understand Curry isn’t ready to retire and certainly refuses to waive the white flag.

They need to get him some star talent. Now.

Though he averaged 26.6 points per game last season, Curry played the fewest average minutes per game of his career and was held to just 43 games after a long battle with runner’s knee. That is perhaps the most glaring indicator that the Warriors need to add another major piece. 

It would be a tall ask to demand a going-on 39-year-old Curry to carry the majority load while trying to navigate the Warriors through an 82-game season and deep playoff run.

Golden State has options. It can overhaul the roster. 

The question is how soon the franchise will take action. 

 

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