Stephen Curry has led the Golden State Warriors to four championships and is the most important player in the history of the franchise.
So yes, he can be involved in discussions about roster construction if he so desires, new Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. told reporters Monday:
“Steph can be as involved as he wants, as far as I’m concerned. But that’s not his personality. He likes to be kept in the loop on stuff, which he’s earned and deserved. So I think because I, and we, value his opinions and thoughts on stuff, I think you’re always running things by him. But Steph just wants to work on his game, play some golf, be with his family, so I’m not going to bother him too much.”
The Warriors are heading to an offseason that could usher in big potential changes, with Draymond Green declining his $27.5 million player option for next season, as expected, on Monday.
If the Warriors re-sign him, they’re simply going to be too expensive and will face prohibitive penalties under the league’s new CBA. They already have Curry under contract at $51.9 million, Klay Thompson at $43.2 million, Jordan Poole at $27.9 million and Andrew Wiggins at $24.3 million.
Losing Green would be an enormous blow to their title chances. Keeping him would almost assuredly mean that either Poole or Wiggins—more likely Poole, given Curry and Thompson’s presence in the starting lineup at guard—would have to go.
Curry likely has a preference. Whether he expresses it remains to be seen.
Losing Poole would hurt, though the 24-year-old had an up-and-down season in 2022-23, averaging a career-high 20.4 points but shooting a less efficient 43 percent from the field and 33.6 percent from three. Add in his questionable defense, and Poole has his deficiencies.
If the Warriors can move his salary off the books and get at least a decent—and cheap—player or two in return while retaining Green, those title hopes will remain intact. That, of course, will be easier said than done.
Dunleavy inherited a complicated situation. Curry’s insight will be helpful, but more importantly will be his play on the court. So long as he’s with the Warriors, they are a threat. This offseason will be about surrounding him with the best possible supporting cast that the organization can actually afford given the constraints of the new CBA.
