The clock is ticking for the Golden State Warriors. There was already a sense of urgency to surround Stephen Curry with as much talent as possible as they look to give the four-time NBA champion another ring, but the way Curry performed in the final two games of Team USA’s gold-medal run in the 2024 Paris Olympics made it even clearer that the team felt obligated to give Curry the best chance at winning as possible.
Curry is already 36 years old, and it’s unclear how long he’ll be one of the league’s best players. Unfortunately, the Warriors were unsuccessful in their chase of many talents, especially Paul George and Lauri Markkanen, and the Dubs will enter the 2024-25 season with great uncertainty about their competitive status.
Nonetheless, Anthony Slater of The Athletic reports that Stephen Curry has not “expressed any signs of panic or unrest” following the Warriors’ aborted trade pursuit of a second star.
Curry hasn’t ruled out leaving the Warriors if they become one of the league’s worst teams. However, as it is, the Warriors’ roster should be good enough to compete for a playoff place in the loaded Western Conference, which could be enough to keep Curry happy in his latter years.
The 36-year-old great has two years and $115.3 million left on his contract, and the Warriors had been willing to give Curry the one-year, $62.6 million extension he is eligible for. It would be a huge surprise if Curry chose to play for another NBA team other than the Warriors, thus the smart money is still on the two parties reaching an agreement in the future.
But for now, Curry is apparently going to “unplug from basketball-related business for a few weeks,” according to Slater, as the Warriors star prepares to take a well-deserved breather after leading Team USA to gold in Paris.
Can the Warriors make it to the playoffs in 2025?
In some ways, the 2024-25 season will be a fresh start for the Warriors. Klay Thompson has left the franchise, and the Warriors have decided to replace him with De’Anthony Melton and Buddy Hield, both former Philadelphia 76ers shooting guards. They also used the freed-up money to sign Kyle Anderson, giving the Warriors their greatest depth since winning the title in 2022.
Furthermore, the Warriors still have a few young players who have the potential to make significant contributions next season. Jonathan Kuminga is hard at work in the lab, with many admirers excited about his breakout potential. Brandin Podziemski is adored by the Warriors’ brass, and rightfully so, because he is a selfless and astute player who might take on a larger role in the offense now that Thompson has joined the Dallas Mavericks. Perhaps Moses Moody will take the next step.
The Warriors still have veterans Draymond Green and Andrew Wiggins, both of whom have bounce-back potential following their tumultuous 2023-24 seasons.
It’s easy to forget, but the Warriors began the 2023-24 season promisingly before faltering in the middle of the season owing to a number of concerns, including Green’s on-court struggles, Wiggins’ deterioration, and Thompson’s inconsistent performance. However, some increased depth could help compensate for inconsistent play, and the Warriors could very well be in the West’s top six provided their key players avoid injury.
