The idea immediately went viral across social media, with many fans imagining Curry teaming up with Jayson Tatum in what would have been one of the most shocking moves in league history.

However, the person who sparked the discussion has now clarified what actually happened, and the reality is very different from the narrative that spread online. The Golden State Warriors never made a decision.

Will the Celtics trade for Stephen Curry?

No, the Celtics are not expected to make a blockbuster trade for Stephen Curry. After the speculation exploded, John Karalis of Sports Illustrated explained that he never reported Boston had actually contacted the Warriors about the star. That clarification significantly changes the context surrounding the story.

“I did not report that the Celtics made an offer to the Warriors. I wrote a column that said if the Warriors were open to a Steph trade that Brad would call. I thought it was pretty clear that the whole piece was my opinion.”

Karalis’ comments make it clear that Brad Stevens is not actively pursuing a trade for Stephen Curry. Instead, the scenario was based entirely on the hypothetical possibility that Golden State would decide to place Curry on the trade market.

At the moment, there is no indication that will happen. In fact, multiple reports suggest the Warriors remain committed to Curry and have even discussed the possibility of another contract extension for the franchise icon.

As a result, what initially appeared to be a potential blockbuster has turned into little more than a social media frenzy fueled by a hypothetical opinion rather than an actual trade discussion.

The idea of Curry joining forces with Jayson Tatum immediately captured attention across the league, especially after another quiet offseason for the Warriors, who failed to land stars such as LeBron James.

However, a new report has poured cold water on the speculation, making it clear that the Golden State Warriors have no intention of moving their franchise icon ahead of next season.

Will Warriors trade Steph Curry to Boston Celtics?

No. According to a report from Jake Weinbach, the Golden State Warriors are not considering trading Stephen Curry and remain committed to building around their longtime superstar.

“Steph Curry is not a trade candidate, at least for the time being. The Warriors fully plan to keep their core intact heading into the 2026-27 season. Golden State’s direction could eventually shift, but the trade speculation surrounding Curry can be put to bed this offseason.”

As exciting as the scenario sounded for Celtics fans, there appears to be virtually no chance of Curry wearing green this season. Instead, the Warriors are expected to move forward with essentially the same core that fell short last season, led by Curry, Draymond Green, as they wait for Jimmy Butler who is working his way back from injury.

After missing out on major offseason targets, the Warriors are betting that continuity will be enough to keep them in the championship conversation during the 2026-27 campaign.

John Karalis of Sports Illustrated gave the following trade proposal for the Celtics to try and convince the Golden State Warriors to say goodbye to Steph Curry, it won’t be easy, but it looks like this:

• Celtics give: Paul George, Sam Hauser, two future first-round draft picks (2028 and 2031), and two second-round draft picks (2028 and 2030).
• Warriors give: Steph Curry.

Is the Curry trade proposal viable?

For starters, for this to happen the Celtics would have to wait until September 6 to make the trade because Paul George’s salary can’t be aggregated with anyone else’s for 60 days. Steph Curry will not request a trade from the Warriors, though.

This hypothetical trade proposal is financially viable and mathematically legally compliant under the current NBA Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). So, is it viable? Yes. Will it happen? Less likely. In fact, a recent report suggests the Celtics won’t find a way to trade for Curry.

Curry isn’t tempted easily

The Warriors have had incredible rosters, but also some lackluster ones, yet Steph Curry has remained loyal through it all. He and Golden State are one, and it’s even tough to imagine it otherwise. Hence, the Celtics would really have to present a strong case to sway Curry.

ESPN’s Shams Charania on The Stephen A. Smith Show on Monday, Charania revealed details about trade talks involving Brown between Golden State and the Celtics before the league’s Feb. 5 trade deadline, noting how the pursuit of James might have differed had Golden State pulled off a deal for Brown earlier in the season.

“The Warriors could’ve got in the Jaylen Brown sweepstakes if they wanted to give up four first-round picks-ish, in that range,” Charania told Smith. “They decided not to from my understanding. Those two teams, the Warriors and Celtics, did talk about a Jaylen Brown trade around the trade deadline, and it was around several first-round draft picks, potential swaps, and seconds. The Warriors decided not to go down that route, and so that’s on them. That’s the decision they made.”

Warriors facing criticism over roster strategy

The narrative surrounding the Warriors is turning villainous as the organization shows a lack of genuine interest in upgrading the roster to maximize Curry, a legend and the greatest player in franchise history. Curry even did his part to help close a potential deal for James, but the front office failed to provide adequate help.

According to Marcus Thompson II of The Athletic, Curry was actively involved in trying to recruit James to Golden State, but kept his expectations in check throughout the process in case things did not work out.

Thompson suggested Curry could be growing weary of the organization’s pattern of chasing external stars rather than building around what the team already has. “I think he’s probably a little tired of the star chasing,” Thompson said. That sentiment reframes Golden State’s aggressive pursuit of James not as a simple swing-and-miss, but as part of a broader front office strategy that may not fully align with what Curry himself wants out of these final NBA seasons of his career.

Curry did not get his shot at pairing with James, and he may also be reconsidering whether chasing that kind of star pairing is even the direction he wants Golden State to pursue. However, that does not mean Curry will distance himself from the franchise given his deep loyalty, which could instead point toward a potential upcoming extension for Draymond Green.

How to watch Atlanta Hawks vs Boston Celtics in the USA

Fans in the United States can watch this Summer League game live on NBA League Pass and Amazon Prime Video.

Be sure to tune in and catch all the action from start to finish in what is expected to be a thrilling and entertaining contest.

Can I watch Atlanta Hawks vs Boston Celtics for free?

Watch the full match live in the United States on Amazon Prime Video, one of the streaming platforms carrying the event.

New users can watch for free by taking advantage of Amazon Prime Video’s 30-day free trial before choosing a paid subscription.

Match Preview: What’s at stake?

NBA Summer League offers teams an opportunity to evaluate young talent ahead of the new season, and this matchup features two franchises looking to bounce back from early playoff exits.

The Atlanta Hawks finished sixth in the Eastern Conference before falling to the eventual champions New York Knicks in the first round.

Meanwhile, the Boston Celtics placed second in the East but were unexpectedly eliminated by the Philadelphia 76ers. Both teams will look to use Summer League as a stepping stone toward a stronger 2026-27 campaign.

What time is the Atlanta Hawks vs Boston Celtics match?

The match kicks off today, July 13, at 6:00 PM (ET). For viewers in different regions of the United States, here are the local start times:

Eastern Time: 6:00 PM
Central Time: 5:00 PM
Mountain Time: 4:00 PM
Pacific Time: 3:00 PM

According to ESPN‘s Shams Charania, the stunning deal swaps two of the Eastern Conference’s elite two-way wings and completely redraws the balance of power atop the league.

With both rosters undergoing an immediate, top-tier facelift, the personnel shift drastically alters how both championship contenders will look on the floor next season. Here is a breakdown of the new-look projected starting lineups for both the Celtics and the Sixers:

• Boston Celtics:
  • PG: Jrue Holiday
  • SG: Derrick White
  • SF: Paul George
  • PF: Jayson Tatum
  • C: Luke Kornet (or Neemias Queta / Xavier Tillman)

• Philadelphia 76ers:
  • PG: Tyrese Maxey
  • SG: Jaylen Brown
  • SF: Kelly Oubre Jr. (or Caleb Martin)
  • PF: Guerschon Yabusele (or a free agent/trade acquisition)
  • C: Joel Embiid

How the Brown–George blockbuster alters the Eastern Conference landscape

The earth-shattering trade completely reshapes the power balance atop the Eastern Conference. By swapping perennial All-Stars and shifting draft equity, both front offices have fundamentally altered their identities and timelines.

This is what the Sixers could have with Brown on the roster:

• Pairing the 29-year-old Brown with franchise cornerstone Tyrese Maxey hands Philadelphia one of the most athletic, high-scoring perimeter duos in the NBA, securing a championship-caliber window for the next half-decade.
• Brown’s elite downhill attacking and lethal transition scoring offer a massive structural upgrade over George’s more deliberate, jump-shot-reliant style. Brown’s ability to routinely collapse opposing defenses will inevitably afford Joel Embiid much wider lanes to operate in the half-court.

This is what the Celtics could have with George on the roster:

• George arrives in Boston as a highly efficient, high-volume threat from deep (41.3% last season). His immense perimeter gravity should optimize Jayson Tatum’s playmaking, clearing out the clogged paint that often resulted from Brown’s downhill drives.
• This deal was heavily motivated by the second-apron constraints of the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement. While Brown is locked into a massive supermax contract, George is only under contract for two seasons. The incoming draft capital—anchored by Philly’s highly coveted, unprotected 2031 first-rounder—gives Brad Stevens the war chest needed to hunt for frontcourt reinforcements down the line.

According to NBA insider Jake Weinbach, if the Celtics ultimately decide to explore the trade market for Brown, the Houston Rockets are poised to assemble a massive blockbuster package to acquire him for the 2026-27 season.

“If the Celtics are open to trading Jaylen Brown, the Rockets can present an appealing package around Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith Jr., and first-round draft compensation,“ Weinbach reported via his X account.

With the Rockets established as an aggressive suitor for Brown, the ball remains entirely in Boston’s court. Houston, however, is not expected to be the only franchise aggressively working the phones to strike a deal for the explosive wing if he becomes available.

What to expect from the Celtics?

To understand why Boston holds all the leverage, it is critical to break down Brown’s current status. While both Brown and Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens have publicly downplayed the trade chatter, a potential parting of ways remains a distinct financial possibility due to the league’s strict economic landscape.

Brown is currently playing under a massive five-year supermax extension worth roughly $285 million. With Jayson Tatum also commanding a historic supermax contract of his own, committing to both superstar wings long-term forces the Celtics deep into the NBA’s punishing “second apron” luxury tax territory.

Under the current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) rules, this designation severely restricts the front office from signing impact depth pieces, utilizing mid-level exceptions, or aggregating salaries in trades, threatening to freeze their ability to build a competent championship roster around their stars.

Other reasons to consider that Brown could leave the Celtics

Beyond the financial constraints, Brown’s recent postseason performance has raised questions after he failed to consistently meet expectations. He struggled to impact winning in the manner the front office and fan base anticipated, though a singular playoff slump is a vulnerability faced by many stars and wouldn’t completely tank his value on its own.

However, a more explosive factor has surfaced via reports from The Athletic, which suggest that the Celtics could be monitoring Giannis Antetokounmpo’s situation for next season. With a luxury tax bill already suffocating their roster flexibility, sacrificed salary would be an absolute necessity, making a Brown departure the clear pathway if ‘The Greek Freak’ somehow targets Boston.

Stein reports that the Heat have long been a potential suitor for the Bucks star, and that while Giannis Antetokounmpo might have legitimate interest in the Celtics, it’s not clear what level of interest the Celtics have in return.

Boston was one of the teams that reportedly reached out to the Bucks at the trade deadline regarding Antetokounmpo, but nothing materialized. A potential deal would almost assuredly mean the Celtics would have to part ways with Jaylen Brown, who has the Rockets interested in him and is up for a contract extension this offseason.

What the Heat can offer

As far as the Heat, a potential package would likely include Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Tyler Herro, and some combination of draft picks. This would be a considerable trade involving quality players, but the Bucks will likely look for a star in return, and that is where the Celtics could step in by offering Jaylen Brown.

Another factor that could play a role in where Antetokounmpo is traded is the fact that he reportedly wants to remain in the Eastern Conference, Stein reports. It’s viewed as the path of least resistance in terms of getting back to the NBA Finals as opposed to having to go through the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs.

Despite injury issues this past NBA season, the former No. 15 overall pick was still an elite-level player. He averaged 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 5.4 assists with splits of 62.4% shooting from the field, 33.3% shooting from the 3-point line, and 65 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

Another possible destination

The Dallas Mavericks also remain an interesting subplot in all of this. Stein reports Antetokounmpo has long been intrigued by the possibility of playing in Dallas, originally because of the opportunity to team up with Luka Doncic before Doncic was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2025.

Antetokounmpo’s close relationship with former Mavericks coach Jason Kidd also helped fuel that interest over the years. Kidd has since exited Dallas, though Stein reports that may not eliminate the Mavericks as a possibility.

NBA insider Marc Stein revealed Monday that three teams are said to have “legitimate interest” in trading for Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown, one of those being the Houston Rockets.

Brown was just named to the All-NBA Second Team Sunday night after posting 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and one steal in the regular season. With Jayson Tatum sidelined for most of the year, Brown took off, leading Boston to the second seed in the Eastern Conference and finishing sixth in the MVP voting.

The others interested in Brown

According to Marc Stein, the Celtics are not the only ones, as the Atlanta Hawks and Portland Trail Blazers also have real interest in the Finals MVP. Stein references Brown within a story largely centered on the uncertain future of Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is believed to have interest in joining Boston, though whether the Celtics feel the same way is not yet known.

The framework of a possible blockbuster trade between Milwaukee and Boston that sees Antetokounmpo land with the Celtics would likely have to involve at least three teams, according to Stein, with Brown rerouted to a third team, potentially Atlanta, Houston, or Portland, and the Bucks receiving unspecified assets.

Something that could define Brown as a trade player

With a projected salary of more than $183 million over the next three seasons, Brown would become a likely trade target if the Celtics considered his salary, combined with Tatum’s, to be too high.

Brown had a career season this past year, helping the Celtics finish with a 56-26 record, which earned them the second overall seed in the Eastern Conference, despite being without Jayson Tatum for most of the NBA season.

The Rockets face a tough offseason this summer, as they will have to decide whether to make yet another aggressive move for a proven superstar, like Brown, much like they did last summer when parting with some of their draft capital and young talent to the Phoenix Suns for Kevin Durant.

During Sunday’s stream, Brown showed a play in which Sixers forward Paul George appeared to push off slightly before making an offensive move. “If you’re going to call push-offs, call that,” Brown said. “Same move. Same refs. Oh, it’s nothing? It’s play on, right?“ Brown said. “But you gonna call me? Everybody does it … but if it would have been me, it’d have been an offensive foul.“

The stream took place Sunday, following the Celtics’ 109-100 loss to the 76ers in the decisive Game 7 of the Eastern Conference first round on Saturday night. The elimination was particularly painful, as Boston lost three straight games after taking a 3-1 series lead.

Brown did not hold back against the referees

Brown was called for 10 offensive fouls in the first round, twice as many as the next-highest player: Jalen Duren, Karl-Anthony Towns, Neemias Queta, and Stephon Castle each had five.

“Every good basketball player does this. What are y’all talking about? They clearly had an agenda,” Brown said. “If Jaylen does this move, call the offensive foul and follow him every time. I don’t know if it’s because I pissed the refs off. I’ve been critical about them, and I called them out a bunch of times. So, they were like, ‘You know what, I got you in the playoffs. Watch this.’ Because that’s exactly what they did.

“It’s clearly an agenda. Look at the same move. Some referees that if I had to choose, if I had to, like, say there’s some referees that need to be investigated. We had three of them in the last three games.”

Brown is one of the most targeted by referees?

Brown may be one of the most affected by officiating, and there is a statistic to support it. During the regular NBA season, Brown ranked second with 40 offensive fouls called against him. Towns was first with 65.

In the Celtics-76ers series, the foul calls were relatively even between the two teams. The Celtics were called for 136 personal fouls, the Sixers were called for 132. So there should not be a complaint of any kind of help.

According to a post shared on X by “Oh No He Didn’t,” Embiid took direct aim at the guard’s pre-game confidence. He stated, “I saw #11 on the team before I came back he said they didn’t care if I was playing or not,” highlighting how the perceived slight fueled his dominant performance. Following the win, 76ers fans crashed the Celtics postgame show with bold chants to celebrate the historic upset.

Embiid further elaborated on how the lack of a specific defensive focus from his opponents allowed him to find his rhythm early. “When the other team doesn’t worry about you and have some solid game plan or being prepared for you he helps you have better games,“ the MVP candidate remarked. He concluded his thoughts with a sarcastic tip of the cap, adding, “I thank #11 for that.”

Embiid and Maxey make history while breaking the Boston hex

The victory marks a massive turning point for the franchise, as it is the first time in eight years that Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers have successfully defeated the Celtics in a playoff series. After years of postseason heartbreak and early exits at the hands of their division rivals, the Sixers finally “got over the hump” by delivering a resilient performance.

Embiid and Tyrese Maxey cemented their legacy in this Game 7 by becoming only the third duo in NBA history to each record at least 25 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists in a winner-take-all game. They join the legendary ranks of Elgin Baylor and Jerry West (1963), as well as Baylor and Wilt Chamberlain (1970), as the only pairs to ever achieve those elite statistical benchmarks.

By securing this win, the Sixers have not only advanced to the Eastern Conference Semifinals but have also exercised the demons of past failures against Boston. With Embiid playing at an all-time high and Maxey proving to be the perfect secondary star, Philadelphia now enters the next round with more momentum than they have had in over a decade.