Curry, who recently reiterated his commitment to the franchise with a new contract extension, has now given his take on the team’s moves, or lack thereof, over the last few years.

“I mean, I’m not an idiot. I know what it means in the sense of that window we had where coming off of ’22, there were opportunities to get better, add new talent, and some worked out, some didn’t. And the jury is still out on how we end this entire journey with a competitive mindset,” Curry said to NBC Sports Bay Area, via Valentina Martinez of the California Post.

Lack of project ambition in the Warriors’ front office

The Warriors have only made one major move since their 2022 championship: trading for Jimmy Butler, who is currently rehabbing a torn ACL. Instead, the team relies heavily on the development of young stars emerging from within the franchise.

However, there has really been only one case that yielded fruitful results for the franchise, most notably playing an essential role on the 2022 NBA championship team: Jordan Poole.

Poole stands as the last case of a young player with the Warriors breaking out inside the franchise and serving as a key piece in a project that completely exceeded expectations—an example the home office may be trying to latch onto.

What is expected of Curry

Curry will be hoping for better luck on the injury front this year, as he missed over 40 games last season due to a lingering knee issue. Golden State is slated to kick off their season on October 21 with a road game vs. the Los Angeles Lakers.

Key takeaways

• Stephen Curry addressed Golden State’s lack of offseason moves in an interview.
• Jimmy Butler is currently rehabbing a torn ACL following his trade to Golden State.
• Over 40 games were missed by Stephen Curry last season due to knee issues.

Following a quiet offseason in which general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. addressed why the franchise bypassed blockbuster moves for marquee stars like Giannis Antetokounmpo or LeBron James, the team finalized a five-year, $110 million contract extension with Podziemski.

The lucrative extension is no fluke. Over the last two seasons, Podziemski has proven his value as a key contributor in Golden State’s ongoing pursuit to return to championship contention and add to its collection of four titles in the Steph Curry era.

To capture another Larry O’Brien Trophy, the Warriors will rely on a mix of youth and proven veteran leadership, surrounding Curry with cornerstone pieces like Draymond Green and versatile roster talent to navigate an increasingly competitive Western Conference.

Why did the Warriors Extend Brandin Podziemski?

Podziemski fit seamlessly into Steve Kerr’s motion offense during his rookie campaign. Unlike many young guards who require heavy ball dominance, Podziemski excels as a connective passer and quick decision-maker, crashing the glass from the guard position and generating high-value possessions.

Leading the NBA in charges drawn as a rookie showcased the high-octane competitive toughness and positional instinct Kerr and his staff rely on, especially in high-stakes Western Conference matchups.

Locking down Podziemski secures a dependable secondary playmaker who can slide into the starting lineup or anchor the second unit alongside veteran facilitators. Extending him reflects an internal consensus: Golden State views him as a foundational piece of its core moving forward rather than merely a trade chip.

Key takeaways

• Golden State extended Brandin Podziemski with a five-year, $110 million contract.
• Podziemski led the NBA in charges drawn as a rookie.
• The Warriors view Podziemski as a foundational core piece moving forward.

For Steph Curry, he is expected to play for the Warriors tonight at home in the Chase Center. Curry logged 10 points in 12 minutes during the Warriors’ preseason opener.

However, Luka Doncic‘s status is doubtful, meaning he is unlikely to suit up on the second night of a back-to-back preseason period. Doncic had 21 points on Monday against the Sacramento Kings.

Steph Curry is entering year 17 with high expectations

Now 37 years old, Curry is entirely focused on “extending his prime” and maintains an inner belief that he can still play at the absolute top of his game to compete for championships. However, while he has high expectations, the Golden State Warriors’ external expectations for the team are actually at a decade-long low.

For over a decade, Curry and the Warriors entered training camp with clear-cut title expectations. However, heading into the 2026–27 NBA season, plenty of analysts are widely predicting Golden State to miss the postseason entirely.

LA Lakers’ Luka Doncic has lots of pressure this year

Luka Doncic enters the 2026 NBA season facing intense pressure as the undisputed franchise centerpiece of the Los Angeles Lakers following a major organizational and roster overhaul, including parting ways with LeBron James.

With LeBron James no longer on the roster, the weight of carrying the franchise rests squarely on Doncic’s shoulders alongside co-leader Austin Reaves. Public and media expectations remain sky-high for Dončić to deliver an NBA championship to Los Angeles.

Key Takeaways

• Stephen Curry is expected to play for Golden State in tonight’s preseason home opener.
• Luka Dončić remains doubtful on the second night of a back-to-back slate.
• Analysts predict Golden State could miss the postseason entirely entering year 17.

“We run out a lot of ground balls. We look at a lot of stuff, and we ultimately make what we think is the best decision… We maintain some flexibility. We have a bunch of assets, so we’re in a really good spot,” Dunleavy told reporters during a media press conference.

Dunleavy’s comments shed light on why the Golden State front office opted for a measured approach this summer, prioritizing Stephen Curry’s contract extension while waiting for Jimmy Butler to return from injury.

Meanwhile, as fans eagerly await LeBron‘s debut with the Sixers, Draymond Green remains confident that the veteran star’s experience will bolster Philadelphia’s quest for an NBA championship this upcoming season.

Dunleavy breaks down Curry’s extension

When asked about Curry’s willingness to accept a pay cut to stay in the Bay Area, the Warriors’ general manager offered insight into the negotiations. “We just presented him with a plan to remain incredibly competitive. I think Steph’s biggest thing is always, ‘Allow me to understand, what are you thinking?’” Dunleavy explained.

Leaning into their long-term process to rebound in the 2026–27 campaign, the Warriors will rely heavily on the star duo of Curry and Butler to carry the load, having taken a conservative approach to major roster additions this summer.

Breaking down Golden State’s offseason moves

Golden State focused its 2026 offseason additions on draft talent and key role players, selecting power forward Yaxel Lendeborg with the No. 11 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft—who went on to earn Summer League MVP honors—and taking wing Lajae Jones at No. 54, alongside free-agent signings Georges Niang, Brandon Williams, and Dalen Terry.

To round out depth and maintain roster continuity ahead of the campaign, the franchise also signed big man Graham Ike to a two-way contract, agreed to veteran extensions with Curry and Kristaps Porziņgis, and re-signed key rotation pieces including Green, Al Horford, De’Anthony Melton, and Gary Payton II.

Key takeaways

• Mike Dunleavy explained why Golden State shifted its offseason plans regarding available free agents.
• Golden State selected power forward Yaxel Lendeborg with the No. 11 pick in 2026.
• Free agents Georges Niang, Brandon Williams, and Dalen Terry joined the franchise roster.

Stephen Curry has agreed to a two-year, $116 million contract extension with the Golden State Warriors, featuring a player option for the 2028-29 season, according to sources cited by ESPN’s Shams Charania.

To put the timeline into perspective, LeBron‘s deal with the 76ers expires in June 2027 if he decides not to use his opt-out option, or extends through June 2028 if he decides to play the optional second year. This could potentially open the door for James to leave the franchise as a free agent and seek to play one final year with the Warriors, enjoying that potential last season alongside Curry, though such a scenario remains highly complicated to pull off.

Curry’s career with the Warriors

The 38-year-old Curry has spent his entire 17-year NBA career with the Warriors. The contract will tie him through age 40 – and possibly to the end of his career – with the franchise that selected him seventh overall in the 2009 NBA Draft.

Curry, a 12-time All-Star and two-time MVP, was limited to 43 games in the 2025-26 season due to a right knee injury. His 30.9 minutes per game represented the third-lowest figure of his career, yet he still averaged 26.6 points and 4.7 assists per contest.

Curry holds the NBA record for 3-pointers made with 4,248 and ranks 19th on the all-time scoring list with 26,528 points. His legacy is indisputable. Now, following his contract extension, his future with the Warriors leaves no room for doubt either.

A notable detail in Curry’s career

The affection is mutual. Despite frequent complaints regarding the front office and the Warriors‘ poor attempts to adequately build around Curry while he remains elite, a key detail stands out: He has never been eligible for free agency in his career and, depending on when he plans to retire, might never be.

Green enters his 15th NBA season with the franchise at 36 years old, placing him at the center of Golden State’s plans to transform the squad compared to last year. “This is going to be an interesting year, a transition year of sorts. And we’re going to do some things differently,” Kerr recently said regarding Green during an appearance on the Tom Tolbert Show.

“He and Steph obviously have this great rapport. We’re not going to take away from that, but he’s going to have to adapt a little bit, and it’s probably going to be a little frustrating at times. So, I’m going to need his patience, too. I’m going to just say that publicly because now, in reverse, he will read that or hear that and know that privately, that’s really what I’m telling him.”

Green remains just as important

Green will always serve as an emotional and vocal leader for the Warriors. His drive and passion have propelled the organization to conquer four championships over the past decade, and Kerr is the first to admit that without Draymond, the Warriors would not be who they are today.

“I will say forever — we don’t have a single championship without him,” Kerr said. “The guy is that impactful on winning.” Green is back with the Warriors on a new one-year, $27.6 million contract after initially opting out of his player option for the same amount.

How Kerr plans to utilize Green

While everyone agrees that Green remains a vital part of the team’s chances at success, his decision-making on the floor needs to improve. That is precisely where Kerr will look for a new version of the veteran forward.

“We have to cut back on the turnovers. I want him shooting the three, and when he’s open when he shoots the three, he may not be a super high percentage shooter, but possessions are good for us when he shoots because, number one, it’s worth three. Number two, we get offensive rebounds. Number three, there’s a flow to the game that has to happen that someone’s open, and they shoot it,” Kerr explained.

“He knows there’s going to be some changes, and he’s always going to be himself. There’s going to be good and bad that comes with that, and we’re okay with that.”

ClutchPoints NBA insider Brett Siegel reported in late August that Butler would miss the first few months of the 2026-27 season after suffering an injury against the Miami Heat in January. However, Siegel reported that Butler has experienced no setbacks or limitations in his rehabilitation, with some indications that he could be progressing ahead of schedule, though without a firm timeline.

“Even so, sources have told ClutchPoints that Butler has not had any setbacks or limitations to this point in his recovery process,” Siegel wrote. “There have been minor hints that he is ahead of schedule and could return to the court sooner than many would’ve initially expected, but again, Golden State has not officially put a firm date on a range of when he could return.”

Best-case scenario for Butler’s return

For the Warriors, an early return for Butler would be the ideal outcome, but they are unwilling to rush him back. However, Siegel reported that Christmas Day against the Denver Nuggets has surfaced in conversations as a possible best-case scenario.

“The best estimate one could give at this time for Butler’s return would realistically be sometime in January or February 2027,” Siegel wrote. “Whether or not he returns sooner will be fully dependent on his progress and the Warriors’ medical staff consistently evaluating him early in the season.”

The Warriors went 46-22 in NBA regular-season games with Butler in the lineup before his injury, illustrating the impact he has made since joining Golden State. His absence adds another question to a team dealing with health concerns surrounding its veteran core, underscoring Butler’s true importance on the roster.

Butler’s notable progress

ESPN‘s Anthony Slater provided further details on Tuesday, reporting that Butler has gradually increased his on-court workload throughout the summer and delivered encouraging results in recent strength tests.

“Butler has been slowly increasing his on-court work while traveling the globe this summer, and the most recent strength tests on his right ACL recovery have shown notable progress, according to league sources,” Slater wrote.

Butler is expected to participate only in individual court and strength work when Golden State opens training camp in approximately a month, according to Slater. He still faces extensive rehabilitation before receiving clearance for full-contact work, with Slater also describing a January or February return as an optimistic target.

The 38-year-old guard fully intends to re-sign with the Warriors, according to Dalton Johnson of NBC Sports Bay Area. While working out a new deal with the club, Curry admitted that he and his representation will not allow contract talks to become a distraction for his teammates and that he wants to be part of the franchise for the rest of his career.

“There’s no question I want to be here the rest of my career, and I’m pretty sure that’s going to happen,” Curry said. “The deal and the contract stuff will happen at the right time, and we’re not letting it be a distraction from our preparation for the season, and the fact that the team we’re coming back with has a lot of familiarity.”

Curry expects contract extension

According to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints, Curry has always planned to sign a contract extension. The Warriors fully intend to re-sign the four-time NBA champion, with belief growing that Curry could follow in the footsteps of LeBron James and play well into his 40s.

“Many have questioned whether the Warriors’ inability to surround Curry with championship-level talent in recent years since their miraculous 2022 title run would result in him wanting to finish his career elsewhere,” Siegel wrote. “All of that talk is ‘nothing but nonsense,’ as one team source said while laughing when asked about whether Steph could leave… .

“The Warriors are Steph’s organization, just like how Dirk Nowitzki will always be remembered in the same sentence as the Dallas Mavericks, Tim Duncan with the San Antonio Spurs, and Kobe Bryant with the Los Angeles Lakers. Curry will be on Golden State’s roster to begin the 2026-27 season, he will be on the roster to end the season, and he will retire in a Dubs uniform,” Siegel continued.

Siegel’s assessment rings true. Curry has proven to be one of the most loyal players in NBA history, spending his entire career with the franchise and helping push it forward even when the front office failed to build adequately around him. Ultimately, an end-of-career finish with the Warriors remains expected for the superstar who has stayed loyal throughout his entire journey.

“Putting money before basketball isn’t how you continue to make more and more money,” Turner said during an appearance on the Run It Back podcast. “Next year presents a much stronger free agency class for him. Teams that attempted to land him via sign-and-trade, like Sacramento and Chicago, will have significant cap space available.”

Facing limited playing time with the Warriors, Kuminga sought a fresh start and finished last season with the Atlanta Hawks. Now, he enters a pivotal stretch of his career focused on finding the right fit to maximize his potential.

Just as the Miami Heat acted quickly to acquire Klay Thompson—who looks to build chemistry alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo—the Timberwolves made an aggressive move to land Kuminga, adding a high-upside wing who has shown flashes of elite talent.

Kuminga’s potential impact on the Wolves’ roster

To gauge Kuminga’s potential impact in Minnesota, it helps to analyze his fit within a lineup headlined by Edwards and offseason acquisition LaMelo Ball from the Charlotte Hornets.

His elite vertical athleticism, transition speed, and dynamic rim pressure directly address a key void left by off-season departures, giving the Timberwolves an explosive, low-maintenance finishing option who can cut off-ball, run the floor, and attack the basket without demanding high-volume shot creation.

Defensively, Kuminga provides long-limbed, multi-positional versatility alongside McDaniels on the perimeter, allowing head coach Chris Finch to deploy switchable defensive looks while utilizing Gobert as the primary paint protector.

Timberwolves’ projected lineup for next season

With Kuminga projected to secure a prominent role, the Timberwolves aim to build on last season’s momentum following a deep playoff run. Here is Minnesota’s projected starting lineup heading into the season:

• Point Guard: LaMelo Ball
• Shooting Guard: Anthony Edwards
• Small Forward: Jaden McDaniels
• Power Forward: Jonathan Kuminga
• Center: Rudy Gobert

The resulting fan backlash on social media has reached a fever pitch, particularly after the Warriors officially announced the low-profile offseason signings of role players Georges Niang and Brandon Williams.

Dismayed supporters flooded online forums to vent their frustration, with fans posting comments like “Steph should do himself a favor and request a trade,” “I thought we were landing a superstar,” and “This front office is becoming a major problem.” Dub Nation remains deeply skeptical about how the roster will fare in the upcoming campaign.

Meanwhile, Thompson has already publicly expressed his excitement about teaming up with Giannis in South Beach, and the 76ers are finalizing logistics for LeBron‘s upcoming introductory press conference in Philadelphia.

A passive offseason leaves Golden State vulnerable

What hurts most for the fanbase is Golden State’s striking inertia. With Jimmy Butler still rehabbing from injury, Draymond Green departing the franchise, and Stephen Curry’s long-term future shrouded in uncertainty, the Warriors risk tumbling into NBA irrelevance before training camp even opens.

While rival contenders aggressively re-tooled through high-profile trades and free agency, Golden State’s primary responses to their roster exodus were Niang (via the Atlanta Hawks) and Williams (via the Dallas Mavericks).

At this stage, faithful supporters are no longer expecting a return to the dynasty years. Instead, they are simply hoping this patchwork group can stay competitive enough to scramble into the Western Conference playoff picture.

According to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints, a return to the Bay Area is impossible under current league regulations. “A reunion between Klay and the Warriors could only happen if he were to become a free agent, and that’s not by way of buyout. We’re talking next offseason, next summer, where the Warriors aren’t a first apron team or a second apron team. If he gets bought out of his contract now, the Warriors cannot sign him due to the CBA rules,” Siegel stated.

A comeback is now completely ruled out after Thompson reached a buyout agreement with the Mavericks. His arrival with the Heat is imminent and could be announced sooner than expected, when he joins Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo.

Thompson open to Golden State return

In a viral video from Thompson‘s signature signing event at last month’s Fanatics Fest NYC, a fan asked the star guard about a potential return to the Bay Area.

Thompson’s response was notably direct. “Shoot, I don’t know,” Thompson said while signing a picture. “I got one more year in my deal. It would be nice to end it in Golden State.”

A reunion fans still hope for

A Klay Thompson return to Golden State and a reunion with Stephen Curry and Draymond Green for one final season remains the dream scenario every Warriors fan hopes to see one day.

Thompson left the Warriors in 2024 after signing a three-year, $50 million contract with the Mavericks. He enters the final year of his current contract during the upcoming 2026-27 NBA season.

The four-time NBA champion averaged 11.7 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in 21.7 minutes last NBA season, shooting 38.3 percent from three-point range across 69 games.