Mike Dunleavy Jr. said he would not deny Steph the chance to move if he so desired it. Speaking in a recent chat with The Athletic’s Anthony Slater, Dunleavy explained what it would actually look like if the veteran point guard opted out of San Francisco. “Ultimately, it’s his call, his decision, whether that’s allowing his contract to run out and move on,” Dunleavy said on Tuesday.

“Look, if he comes to me and wants to be moved, [controlling owner] Joe [Lacob] and I will talk it through. We wouldn’t love it. But he’s earned the right to do what he wants. But as far as the messaging or any idea that he’d be anywhere else, that’s not a thing we’re looking at, or he’s looking at.”

What the Warriors want to avoid most

Despite Dunleavy stating the front office would not stand in his way, letting the greatest player in franchise history leave without a fight would bring unprecedented pain to the organization, adding to the heavy criticism management has faced in recent years.

Curry remains in top form. As a four-time champion and two-time MVP, he is the greatest Warrior ever and is coming off another excellent NBA season with averages of 26.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 1.1 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game, on 46.8% shooting from the field.

But at 38 years old, Steph is approaching the end of his storied career, and he wants to go out the way he deserves: as a winner. The problem is, the Warriors are not in a position to contend as currently constructed. Besides Curry and Kristaps Porzingis, they lack veteran scoring options.

Warriors dealing with major injuries

They are also dealing with major injuries to both Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody. For Dunleavy, the challenge this summer was finding the balance between talent and availability. The picture looks even worse considering the team did not pursue LeBron James or Giannis Antetokounmpo.

“Constructing [the roster], we had to make a decision between talent and availability,” Dunleavy added. “There was no perfect solution in terms of the combination of the two. We leaned a little bit more toward talent… We are taking on some risk there, but I think we value the talent over maybe finding guys that were perfectly healthy.”

The team may have missed out on LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo, but there’s still a pathway to making upgrades without breaking up its beloved core. According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, there are ties between the squad and a pair of veteran minimum-level free agents: Georges Niang and Kelly Olynyk.

The Warriors had plans to pursue a new co-star for Curry, though that may not be known for now, but had to settle for less ambitious targets after being turned down. Fortunately, the organization managed to re-sign Kristaps Porzingis and Draymond Green to contract extensions, securing a solid frontcourt to play alongside Steph.

By the numbers: Niang and Olynyk

Golden State must seek solutions that ensure results, especially in the paint, where the team struggled immensely last season. Still, at 33 years old, Georges Niang is not going to move the needle for Golden State, but having another veteran shooter and scorer on the floor would surely make life easier for Steph.

In 28 games last NBA season, Niang averaged 12.1 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.4 steals, and 0.3 blocks per game while shooting 44.1% from the field and 41.3% from three-point territory. At 6-foot-6 and 230 pounds, Niang provides crucial frontcourt depth that could prove decisive for the team’s success or failure this season.

If he is unavailable, the Warriors could also consider Kelly Olynyk, another veteran power forward capable of stretching the floor. In 42 games last season, Olynyk averaged 3.2 points, 1.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.4 steals, and 0.1 blocks per game on 49.0% shooting from the field.

Having played for eight teams over a 13-year career, he knows how to adapt to various situations and possesses extensive experience playing alongside elite talent.

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.

Recently, Warriors guard Moses Moody revealed that Curry joined him for a youth event in his native Arkansas, speaking on what the gesture meant to him as a teammate.

“That’s a crazy concept to me. I met Steph Curry five years ago, and now he’s here in Arkansas. … You can say you like somebody. You can say you rock with somebody. But to actually come and do something like this, it really just makes me feel good about myself, for one, and it’s cool to know he thinks so highly of me,” Moody said, per Marcus Thompson II of The Athletic.

Curry praises Moody

Moody’s appreciation was matched by the leader of a franchise with which Curry has won everything. Curry also offered a glowing review of Moody’s character built over their time as teammates.

“Just his curiosity for life. The questions he has. Just the spirit he has. And that was from Day 1. … And you kind of understand it means so much to him to be able to have this weekend and this presence here,” Curry said.

Moody’s situation

Moody is currently rehabbing from a devastating knee injury suffered toward the end of last season that figures to sideline him for most, if not all, of the upcoming season. Joining Moody on the bench at the start of the year will be Jimmy Butler, who tore his ACL midway through last NBA season.

The Warriors will certainly hope that Curry can stay on the floor after he, too, dealt with injuries throughout last season. The franchise also hopes the rest of its roster recovers and stays healthy, considering all the complications it faced last season, including Moody’s absence.

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.

That reality has forced the Warriors to keep monitoring every possible opportunity that could help maximize what remains of Stephen Curry’s championship window. While there are few realistic blockbuster options available, one familiar name has surprisingly resurfaced in recent reports: Kevin Durant.

According to Brett Siegel, the Warriors have not completely abandoned the possibility of bringing Durant back if the situation in Houston were ever to change.

Warriors reportedly still interested in Kevin Durant

Siegel reported that Golden State would immediately revisit the idea of reuniting Curry and Durant should the opportunity arise. “Specifically for the Warriors, sources say the organization has not completely moved on from the idea of one day reuniting Curry with former Warrior and two-time Finals MVP Kevin Durant. Joe Lacob and the Warriors would welcome Durant back with open arms, much like they were prepared to do in 2025 before he and his business partner Rich Kleiman stopped the trade deadline deal in its tracks.”

The report indicates the Warriors’ interest has never completely disappeared, even after the failed trade discussions in 2025. Despite the speculation, many around the league view the possibility as a long shot.

Even if Durant were to reconsider his future with the Houston Rockets, he has indicated in recent years that he has no desire to return to Golden State. That history has led many fans and analysts to describe the latest report as more of a contingency plan than a realistic expectation.

Still, with Curry entering the final stretch of his legendary career and the Warriors searching for one last championship run, they appear unwilling to completely rule out any blockbuster scenario, including another reunion with Kevin Durant.

Golden State aggressively pursued superstars such as Giannis Antetokounmpo and LeBron James, but ultimately came away empty-handed. As a result, the Warriors are expected to enter the 2026-27 season with essentially the same core that fell short a year ago.

That means Stephen Curry will once again lead the team alongside Draymond Green, while Jimmy Butler continues working his way back from injury. With few major roster improvements, speculation has grown about whether Curry, now 39 years old, could seek one final opportunity to compete for another championship elsewhere.

Will Warriors trade Stepeh Curry?

No. According to a report published on Friday by Brett Siegel, neither the Golden State Warriors nor Steph Curry are considering a breakup. “Even with the team failing to meet expectations the last couple of seasons and striking out on a big star this summer, Curry remains committed to the franchise and is not going anywhere. The Warriors have not thought about trading Curry once, and he won’t request a trade.”

Can the Warriors win another NBA title?

Although Steph Curry remains committed, the pressure on Golden State has not disappeared. The Warriors have failed to land the superstar reinforcement they wanted, leaving the organization with many of the same questions that existed at the end of last season. With Curry entering the final stage of his legendary career, every season carries added urgency.

For now, however, the four-time NBA champion appears determined to continue chasing another title in Golden State, even if the path back to championship contention looks far more difficult than it once did.

According to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints, Curry was never interested in a trade. “Team sources say Curry will not request a trade and will be on the Warriors’ roster entering the 2026-27 season. The two sides are motivated to get an extension done when he’s eligible on August 6.”

In addition to Curry and Green, Warriors guards Jimmy Butler and Brandon Podziemski are also on the last guaranteed year of their respective deals. Golden State currently only has around $50 million on the books after next season, giving the team significant cap space in the 2027 offseason.

A non-contending roster

The Warriors are unlikely to contend for a championship with their current roster, so it remains to be seen if Curry wants to stick around beyond this season. While the squad may sound like it features interesting names from afar, that perspective overlooks ongoing age and injury concerns.

However, it would be a massive surprise if Curry played the final years of his legendary career in a different uniform, so Golden State should be motivated to lock up the longtime face of the franchise with a new extension.

At age 38, Curry remains one of the best players in the world. The two-time MVP averaged 26.6 points, 4.7 assists, and 3.6 rebounds for the Warriors last NBA season but was limited to 43 games due to a problematic “runner’s knee” injury.

The Warriors are still not losing hope of winning another NBA title and reviving their dynasty simply because of Curry’s presence. Heading into next month, the team is primarily looking forward to further securing its future with him.

According to a report from Evan Sidery, Curry is eligible for a two-year, $136.7 million extension with the Warriors. That would dwarf James’ two-year deal with the 76ers, where he had to take a massive pay cut.

While James will make just under $4 million a year, Curry would average $68.35 million annually if he signs the deal with Golden State. That would easily keep him among the highest-paid players in the NBA. In fact, it’s even more than James made with the Lakers, a move Derek Fisher recently defended, shutting down claims that LeBron was just “ring-chasing.”

Who has higher career earnings between Curry and James?

James takes the crown here thanks to two decades of dominance and massive off-court deals. Even though Curry currently makes more money per season than anyone else in the NBA, LeBron’s 20-plus years in the league have pushed his total combined earnings well past the $1.2 billion mark, officially making him a billionaire.

Curry isn’t hurting by any means, having pulled in roughly $500 million throughout his career between salary and endorsements. But because LeBron got a six-year head start and built an absolute empire of business equity and shoe deals, his lifetime total stays well out of reach.

Curry’s Warriors extension isn’t a done deal yet

However, Curry locking in that extension with Golden State isn’t guaranteed. As Sidery noted on X, “If Curry doesn’t immediately sign, this could be a tactic to place pressure on Golden State building a more competitive roster around him.” So, we’ll have to wait and see if Curry takes the money to officially out-earn James for the 2026-27 season.

With LeBron now free to choose his next destination, the possibility of joining the Golden State Warriors has become one of the most fascinating scenarios in basketball. A Warriors lineup featuring Curry, LeBron, Draymond Green, and Jimmy Butler would instantly become one of the most star-studded groups in the league.

However, such a reunion would also be built around veteran stars competing in a loaded Western Conference, where younger teams such as the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder are emerging as major contenders.

Stephen Curry on the possibility of teaming up with LeBron James

Stephen Curry was asked about the idea of sharing the court with LeBron James and made it clear that he would be enthusiastic about the prospect. “I’m sure we obviously would love to play together. I mean, hopefully it happens. But he’s deserved the opportunity and the right to take his time with the decision.”

The quote reflects both Curry’s admiration for LeBron and his understanding that James has earned the right to carefully evaluate his next move after one of the greatest careers in NBA history.

Warriors emerge as an attractive destination for LeBron James

The Warriors present an intriguing option for LeBron James because of their championship pedigree and the possibility of forming a veteran superteam around Curry, Green, and Butler.

Curry and LeBron have spent years battling each other in the NBA Finals, but they also showed how effective they can be together while leading Team USA to the gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Their chemistry during that tournament reignited speculation about what they could accomplish if they ever joined forces at the NBA level.

Other teams are also in the conversation for LeBron

While Golden State is one of the most attractive destinations, other franchises are expected to pursue LeBron as well. The Philadelphia 76ers have also emerged as a rumored option after assembling a powerful roster featuring Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown, and V.J. Edgecombe.

A move to Philadelphia would give LeBron James another chance to compete for a title with a team built around both established stars and rising young talent. Another paat through the Eastern Conference.

A potential partnership years in the making

LeBron James has repeatedly expressed his admiration for Curry throughout their careers, and Steph has often spoken with respect about the impact of James on the game.

Their Olympic partnership demonstrated that even after years as rivals, they can complement each other at the highest level. Curry’s shooting and off-ball movement paired with LeBron’s playmaking and versatility would create one of the most dangerous combinations in NBA history.

Whether the partnership happens with the Warriors or another team, Curry’s comments have made it clear that the idea of playing with LeBron is one he would welcome.

For now, the NBA world will wait to see where James decides to continue his legendary career and whether a Curry-LeBron partnership can finally become a reality.