If the Golden State Warriors have shown an increased sense of urgency and willingness to make bold moves (such as trading for Jimmy Butler and showing interest in Bradley Beal, Damian Lillard, etc.), the uncertain future of Stephen Curry could be a primary reason why.
Curry turned 37 in March and is heading into his 17th NBA season.
Asked during a golf tournament in Tahoe, Curry spoke candidly about just how much longer he plans to play in the NBA.
“I don’t know,” the four-time champion and 11-time All-NBA selection, Curry, said, per The Athletic’s Anthony Slater on July 10. “I’m just taking it two years at a time. That’s what I have left on my contract right now.”
Curry is in the final year of a four-year, $215.3 million deal with the Warriors, but he has a one-year, $62 million extension for 2026-27. He has made 70-plus appearances in back-to-back seasons, but is not too far removed from a six-season stretch below that threshold.
Moreover, his current top supporting cast of Butler and Draymond Green made 55 and 68 appearances, respectively, and, like Curry, are on the wrong side of 30.
Time is certainly not on the Warriors’ side with Curry, the face of the franchise.
Stephen Curry Addresses Al Horford Rumors
Curry’s timeline means the Warriors are still looking to add firepower despite having players like Jonathan Kuminga, who remains in a state of limbo in restricted free agency.
Former Boston Celtics big man Al Horford is among the rumored targets for the Warriors. Some reports have painted the move as a near certainty, but Horford, who is 39 and entering his 19th season, has also considered retirement.
Fittingly, Curry offered his respect for the player that Horford is, but little else when asked.
“He’s a champion, great player,” Curry said, per Slater. “When…if, when all that stuff happens, I’ll talk about it.”
Similar to the other stars in Curry’s supporting cast on the Warriors, durability would be a concern with Horford. But adding him would be a clear signal that the Warriors are indeed trying to maximize what could be the final two seasons of Curry’s career.
Warriors’ Timeline Crystal Clear
Even without Curry’s assertion about his future, the Warriors are almost certainly working on a two-year timeline, or somewhere thereabouts.
Curry’s deal expires following the 2026-27 season, as does Butler’s. Green’s deal has a player option for the 2026-27 campaign, and he will be an unrestricted free agent the following offseason as well.
The Warriors have two players who are under contract for the 2027-28 season.
That could change once Kuminga’s situation is resolved, and Brandin Podziemski will be a restricted free agent that summer. But the list is currently Buddy Hield and Moses Moody.
The Warriors must also navigate a Western Conference with the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder, where the Houston Rockets traded for Kevin Durant after finishing second in 2024-25, and the Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Lakers, and Minnesota Timberwolves still exist.
Making bold moves is a prerequisite to staying afloat, let alone maximizing Curry’s twilight.
