Steph Curry takes his time on extension with the Warriors

Stephen Curry has up to $136.7 million on the table, but for once, the signing can wait. Steph has no doubts about wanting to remain with the GSW: he simply wants to understand which decision can best help the Warriors build an even more competitive team.

Starting August 29, Curry can extend his contract for two more seasons and a maximum of $136.7 million, which would be added to the $62.6 million he is set to make in the final year of his current deal. It is a unique moment for Steph, who will soon also be featured in a Disney movie about his pursuit of 4,000 career three-pointers. In the meantime, Golden State has left him several options: take the maximum, give up some money to create more breathing room for the team, or wait even longer before making a decision.

With training camp just days away, Steph still hasn’t made his choice. But there is one thing he wants to avoid from the start: turning his contract into the main storyline of the season.

I don’t want drama. I don’t want it to become something we’re constantly talking about. This team needs to be competitive and try to win

Steph Curry

Curry can wait: the Warriors can’t

The issue, then, doesn’t seem to be whether Curry wants to continue with the Warriors. On that front, the 38-year-old has once again been quite clear, calling finishing his career with the same franchise his goal.

The real question, instead, is how to build Golden State’s final run around him.

It will happen at the right time, when I have all the information I need to make the best decision. The team has been fantastic in working with me. If I don’t sign now, it won’t change anything about the way I play, and I won’t feel any pressure. I’ll decide when I’m ready

Steph Curry

Curry’s patience also has a financial explanation. The Warriors are preparing for an offseason in which they could have more than $100 million in salary-cap space, thanks to the number of expiring contracts on the roster. A max extension for Steph, on the other hand, would reduce that figure to around $45 million.

That is a huge difference for a team that wants to remain competitive and has had significantly less flexibility in the market in recent years.

We’re in a really interesting situation. Whether I sign for the max, for less, or whatever the solution is, I want to be on a competitive team. I want there to be a chance to have flexibility, because we haven’t had it over the last few years

Steph Curry

Curry therefore wants to understand just how much his own contract can coexist with the moves necessary to keep Golden State competitive.

This team needs to have the flexibility to make the moves that are necessary if opportunities come up. For me, the important things are having all the information and having patience. It’s a unique situation, considering what we’ve been through over the last four years, where I am in my career, the team we have today and how badly we want to win. We have to find a balance between all those things

Steph Curry

Curry is only thinking about getting back on the court

The contract remains unresolved, but Curry wants the issue to end there. Especially because after a difficult season from a physical standpoint, his priority now is something else.

Last year, Steph played just 43 games, slowed by persistent pain and swelling in his right knee. After the offseason, however, the feeling seems to be considerably better.

The idea of getting back to work excites me. I feel like I made good use of this offseason, and I have no doubts about my physical condition heading into the start of the season. I’m happy to be able to get back to work

Steph Curry

At 38 years old and on the eve of his 18th NBA season, Curry could simply take another $136.7 million and secure his future. Instead, he has chosen to wait, partly because every million left on the table could turn into valuable cap space to build a better team.