Marcus Thompson II of The Athletic recently said he believes Stephen Curry could be growing frustrated and getting tired of Golden State constantly waiting for another superstar instead of simply building the best possible roster around him. Curry’s own comments stayed calm, but even he admitted the team is dealing with a completely different situation after Jimmy Butler tore his right ACL and Moses Moody also went down.
The Warriors’ huge offseason move was bringing Draymond Green back on a one-year, $27.7 million contract. That’s basically the same money Green declined through his player option to help the franchise chase LeBron James. Green remains important defensively, but he’s also 36 and comes from a season with 8.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 5.5 assists while shooting 32.6% from three.
Golden State retained De’Anthony Melton and Kristaps Porzingis, but it still hasn’t finalized one new outside addition. That’s embarrassing for a team with Curry entering the final guaranteed season of his contract. The Warriors discussed Giannis Antetokounmpo, Anthony Davis, Jaylen Brown, and LeBron, but every superstar chase failed.
According to Shams Charania, Milwaukee rejected a framework involving four first-round picks for Giannis, the Wizards weren’t interested in moving Davis, and LeBron eventually chose the 76ers. Golden State now looks ready to bring back the same group that went 37-45 and lost in the Play-In Tournament.
Curry still gave them 26.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 4.7 assists while shooting 46.8% from the field and 39.3% from three last season. He only played 43 games because of a knee injury, but the offensive level is still there. The Warriors have one of the greatest players ever, and their current plan appears to be Curry, an injured Butler, an expensive Green, Porzingis, Melton, Brandin Podziemski, and a bunch of hope. That isn’t enough.
The Extension Deadline
Curry will make $62.6 million in 2026-27 before becoming an unrestricted free agent next summer. On August 29, he becomes eligible to sign an extension worth up to two years and $136.7 million. Shams reported that there’s mutual interest between both sides and that Golden State will offer Curry whatever extension length he wants.
August 29 isn’t a hard deadline where Curry loses the chance to extend. It’s the first major decision point. The practical deadline should be the start of the regular season, because Curry entering camp without a new contract would instantly create questions that haven’t seriously existed during his entire career.
Does he still believe in Mike Dunleavy’s plan? Does he trust Joe Lacob to spend and trade future picks? Is he comfortable finishing his career beside an aging roster that already missed the playoffs twice in three seasons?
Requesting a trade would feel completely against Curry’s personality. He stayed through the early losing years, created four championship teams, changed how basketball is played, and turned the Warriors into one of the most valuable franchises in sports. Leaving now wouldn’t erase any of that, but Curry clearly cares about spending his entire career with one team.
Still, loyalty can’t work only in one direction. If Curry doesn’t extend and the Warriors start the season horribly, trade conversations would become logical near the deadline. Golden State shouldn’t let the greatest player in franchise history enter free agency for nothing, especially if the roster has no realistic championship path. Milwaukee eventually reached that point with Giannis, moving its franchise icon once the relationship and competitive direction reached the end.
Curry probably won’t ask out. It also wouldn’t be shocking if he delayed the extension and forced the Warriors to prove something first. A contract is his final piece of leverage. Signing immediately would tell the front office that all of this offseason failure has no consequences.
Staying In The Bay Needs A Promise
Every serious report still points toward Curry staying. He has already said he wants extension talks, and the Warriors obviously want him to retire in their jersey. The relationship isn’t broken.
But in my eyes, Curry should only sign after receiving one clear promise: Golden State will use everything available to add another star.
The Warriors have created a massive financial opening for 2027. Curry, Butler, and Green are all entering expiring contracts worth a combined $147.1 million. Porzingis’ 2027-28 salary has only $3.0 million guaranteed until July 7, 2027. That doesn’t automatically create unlimited cap space because Curry’s extension, roster charges, and other contracts still matter, but it gives Golden State the ability to completely reshape the team.
The 2027 market could include Kawhi Leonard, Michael Porter Jr., Tyler Herro, RJ Barrett, and several solid starters as unrestricted free agents. Nikola Jokic, Giannis, Kevin Durant, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Anthony Davis also have options or contract decisions that could create trade opportunities, even though most of them are unlikely to simply walk into free agency.
Golden State shouldn’t build the entire plan around waiting for one of those names. That’s exactly the mistake Curry may already be tired of. The Warriors waited for Giannis. They waited for Davis. They waited for LeBron. Everybody moved somewhere else while Golden State kept its picks and young players.
The better promise is much more aggressive. If a star becomes available, every first-round pick, every swap, Podziemski, Moses Moody, Yaxel Lendeborg, and any other young asset should be on the table. Not all of them need to be traded in one deal, but nobody outside Curry should be untouchable.
What Should The Warriors Do?
The Warriors should give Curry the full two-year, $136.7 million extension and attach a real basketball commitment to it. Not another meeting about flexibility, another summer waiting for the perfect superstar, or another report about how much the front office likes its young core.
Go get the best available star or build the deepest roster possible around Curry. If the blockbuster player isn’t there, add two or three good starters instead. Curry has spent years proving he doesn’t need a second MVP beside him. He needs shooting, athletic defenders, another creator, and players who can protect a lead when he sits.
There have been reports that ownership is already considering the post-Curry era and protecting assets for the franchise’s next iteration. That idea is understandable in a normal rebuild. This isn’t that case. Curry is the player who created the entire modern Warriors identity, and he’s still scoring nearly 27 points per game at 38.
If Golden State truly cares more about the post-Curry roster, then trade him and stop wasting everybody’s time. Let him spend his final seasons competing for another championship, get a historic package in return, and begin the rebuild immediately.
But keeping Curry while refusing to sacrifice future assets is the worst possible middle ground. It wastes his final elite seasons without giving the franchise a proper rebuild either.
The right choice is obvious. Pay Curry, trade whatever is necessary, and seriously compete for the next two or three seasons. The Warriors can tank after he retires. They can spend four years collecting lottery picks and trying to find the next franchise player.
For now, they already have the best player they’ll ever find. Golden State owes Stephen Curry one final honest championship attempt.
His extension decision will show whether he believes the Warriors are finally ready to give him one.
