The chief reason the Warriors have been able to keep their core together for so long, and even have room to sign Kevin Durant, has been the extraordinarily team-friendly contract Steph Curry signed in 2012 for four years and $44 million. Curry signed it as insurance against his bothersome ankle, and the team’s long-term gamble on a talented-but-injury prone player like Curry has paid off, one might say. His next contract will be a whole lot bigger, but Curry says it’s definitely going to be with Golden State.
Steph Curry said he won't let his lingering free agency become a distraction: "I want to be back here" pic.twitter.com/vSFMAZTsJQ
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) September 27, 2016
Steph Curry when asked if he's optimistic about re-signing w/Golden State in 2017 free agency: "Uh, yes. …. I want to be here. That's it."
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) September 27, 2016
This is not terribly surprising, as Curry became a megastar and an NBA champion with the Warriors, and it’s not like Golden State will mess around and give him anything less than the maximum unless he specifically asks for it. And yet, even if he does give the Dubs the mother of all hometown discounts (seriously, the max isn’t enough for this guy), his raise will make the team’s cap situation even tighter. Klay Thompson and Draymond Green are signed for at least three more years (and all on cap-friendly deals that came before the TV-rights spike), and Durant could opt out but will almost certainly not bail on the Warriors after one year. Except, the rest of the roster will get awfully tricky.
Andre Iguodala is set to be a free agent after the season, and while he’s not a franchise centerpiece, especially at his age, he’s still an extraordinary defender and excellent passer who will command one more serious contract. He’s as good as gone, and Shaun Livingston might be as well. The Warriors will be championship contenders as long as their starting lineup involves Steph, Klay, Durant and Draymond, but their future rosters will look more like LeBron’s Heat than the unfair depth they’re accustomed to having.
Of course, maybe Golden State’s chemistry implodes under the weight of expectations, and Curry becomes dissatisfied and wants out. WHO’S READY FOR THE 2017 STEPH CURRY SWEEPSTAKES?!
