Curry-Warriors, extension coming: “He wants to finish as a Warrior”

The future of Stephen Curry with the Golden State Warriors remains one of the most delicate topics surrounding the franchise. The No. 30 is entering the final year of his contract, but there don’t appear to be many doubts in San Francisco: the goal remains to finish together a story that began in 2009.

General manager Mike Dunleavy reiterated that point, confirming just weeks before Curry becomes eligible to sign a new extension that the player’s position has not changed.

He’s never said anything different. That’s always been the message and what we’ve talked about. I think everything is headed in the right direction

Mike Dunleavy

Curry will enter his 18th season with the Warriors on a $62.5 million expiring contract. Starting August 29, however, he will be eligible for an extension worth up to two years and $136.7 million.

Curry wants to finish his career with the Warriors

Stephen Curry’s desire to remain in Golden State is nothing new. The four-time NBA champion has already publicly said he wants to play at least two more seasons and, above all, wants to wear only one jersey throughout his career.

Dunleavy still considers that position valid, while acknowledging that Curry has earned the right to make his own decision about his future.

Ultimately, it will be his choice. He could let the contract expire and go somewhere else. If he came to me and asked to be traded, Joe Lacob and I would talk about it. We wouldn’t be happy, but he’s earned the right to do whatever he wants. That said, the idea of him playing somewhere else is not something we’re considering, neither us nor him

Mike Dunleavy

Warriors, Health Remains the Real Problem

More than talent, the biggest question mark is whether the roster can stay on the floor consistently. Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody are coming off significant knee injuries and are expected to miss a substantial portion of next season.

They join several veterans who dealt with significant physical issues last season. Porzingis played just 32 games, Horford missed 37, while Melton spent the first part of the season recovering from a torn ACL.

Curry has also had to deal with his own physical issues: just 43 appearances because of a persistent right knee problem, accompanied by swelling and pain.

My hope is that he plays more than the 43 games he played last year. We expect that, but it’s something we have to monitor. It’s a delicate situation for him and for the other players on the team as well

Mike Dunleavy

Golden State still believes in the Playoffs

An offseason without major moves has inevitably increased doubts about the Warriors’ ability to compete during the final years of the Curry-Green-Kerr era.

Dunleavy’s internal goal is first and foremost to return to the Playoffs. From there, Golden State hopes to get Butler and Moody back, have better luck on the injury front and potentially use its assets and flexibility to strengthen the roster during the season.

There is therefore no obsession with talking about an NBA title today. Curry and Steve Kerr have emphasized the need to rediscover an identity and rebuild the Warriors’ culture, then let the court determine how far this team can go.

On one thing, however, Dunleavy continues to have no doubts.

There are two things I’m sure of with Steph: he really, really wants to win and he wants to finish his career as a Warrior. I don’t think that’s going to change tomorrow, on August 29, at the start of the season, midway through the year or at the end of next season

Mike Dunleavy

The extension still needs to be put in writing, but the message coming from Golden State is clear: the Warriors and Stephen Curry continue to envision the final chapters together of one of the most important stories in NBA history.