The Warriors have a problem.
After standing pat this offseason, they’re allowing the end of Steph Curry’s career to swirl the drain. It’s obvious as things stand, they have no chance of competing for an NBA championship.
But there’s light at the end of the tunnel.
At the February trade deadline, they’re going to have some leverage with about $100 million in expiring contracts, including Jimmy Butler’s $56.8 million, Draymond Green’s $27.7 million and Kristaps Porzingis’ $20 million, minus his partial guarantee for next season.
So, maybe they could make a big trade. Or maybe they could set themselves up for a big free-agency acquisition next offseason. That’s a lot of maybes for Curry, who’s on an expiring contract himself and is eligible for a two-year, $136.7 million extension on Aug. 29.
But the Warriors may have an even bigger problem.
Do stars want to play for Golden State?
Ten years ago, Kevin Durant made a decision that tainted his legacy.
He left the Thunder for the Warriors in free agency in 2016, joining a team that had reached the NBA Finals two straight seasons and won a championship in 2015 behind Curry, Green and Klay Thompson.
Durant went on to win back-to-back championships with the Warriors in 2017-2018, including being named Finals MVP both seasons.
Even though he played a major role in the Warriors’ dynastic run, his decision to join a team that was already atop the mountain drew the ire of detractors. He has been accused of being a sellout. Pundits question whether he could win without Curry, especially since he hasn’t made it past the second round of the playoffs since leaving the Warriors in 2019.
Durant’s experience made a resounding impression around the league.
So much so that when LeBron James became an unrestricted free agent this summer, Green believes concerns about how teaming up with Curry would negatively impact his legacy played a major role in him deciding not to come to Golden State.
“I ultimately don’t think Bron was ever able to get over the history,” Green said on his podcast, “The Draymond Green Show.” “And I understand it. I get it. What we ultimately always knew is that’s the hurdle to get over.
“We live in a day and age where everybody who doesn’t have anything to say has something to say. So, he’s going to get crushed if he comes to the Warriors. ‘Aw man, he went to team up with Steph. Aw man, you had to go to them, dah, dah.’ And I think ultimately that weighed in on the decision a lot. That played a big role in the Warriors not landing LeBron.”
Obviously, James was in a completely different position than Durant.
He has already won four championships. He’s considered one of the greatest players of all time. James’ history with the Warriors includes playing against them in four straight Finals from 2015-2018, including completing the greatest comeback in NBA history when he overcame a 3-1 series deficit in the 2016 Finals to lead the Cavaliers to their only title.
But he apparently still had concerns.
It makes you wonder if all superstars are worried about how joining Curry would impact their legacy.
It’s interesting because Curry and the Warriors are in a completely different position nowadays. They’ve missed the playoffs two of the last three seasons. Curry is turning 39 in March. They’re far from being the team to beat.
But does Curry’s legend loom so large that superstars don’t want to play alongside him?
Durant was labeled as a villain after he joined the Warriors. James clearly feared he’d be viewed a certain way if he teamed up with his former greatest rival.
Curry is obviously no longer in his prime, but he’s still one of the league’s best players. Last season, he averaged 26.6 points on 46.8% shooting from the field and 39.9% from beyond the arc. He was the oldest point guard in NBA history to be named a starter on the All-Star team.
He’s the greatest shooter of all time. He changed how the game is played. He may be inching toward the end of his career, but he’s still very much him.
In a league where perception dominates narratives, does that mean guys don’t want to team up with him? That hasn’t been the case for other superstars, such as James. But Curry has been with the same team for 17 years, while James joined his fourth team.
There’s something different about joining Curry on the Warriors.
That’s an issue for the Warriors, who are under a lot of pressure to extend Curry’s championship window.
It would be deeply upsetting for them to squander the sunset of his career. He put them on the map. They owe it to him to do everything in their power to make sure he’s still playing meaningful basketball.
But even though Curry is one of the most likable guys in the league, playing alongside him comes with a unique set of issues.
And for other superstars, that may be a deterrent.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: nypost.com
