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After LeBron James chose Philadelphia, Stephen Curry’s future with the Warriors is now in question after the front office’s failed pursuit of the 41-year-old. Curry expressed disappointment after the prospect of teaming up with his USA colleague in the NBA failed, but reports revealed the problem stemmed from the front office’s poor planning.

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Stubbornness about not trading for Jaylen Brown and Anthony Davis ultimately proved costly, with there now being buzz over Curry’s long-term future in ‘the Bay.’

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“The Warriors could have got in the Jaylen Brown sweepstakes if they wanted to give up four first-round picks-ish, in that range.” Shams Charania on the Stephen A. Smith show revealed that the front office declined the opportunity.

Brown eventually went to Philly, with the Celtics getting Paul George, two first-round picks (2028, 2031) and two second-rounders (2028, 2030). The 76ers have opted to win now, which is something the Warriors may have been against at the cost of trading away their future draft capital.

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“They decided not to, from my understanding. Those two teams, the Warriors and Celtics, did talk about a Jaylen Brown trade around the trade deadline, and it was around several first-round draft picks, potential swaps, and seconds. The Warriors decided not to go down that route, and so that’s on them.”

A few weeks ago, even the Philadelphia 76ers were nowhere near a potential destination for James. But the Brown trade was the first domino, which eventually drew Bron to the East after eight seasons away.

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In 24 days, the Sixers got Brown and James and have certainly become favorites in the Eastern Conference on the back of their new acquisitions. Things could have been different if the Warriors had lured in Anthony Davis.

Charania revealed that it was not just a situation with Brown, with even trading for AD requiring a plethora of picks that the Warriors considered “steep”.

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So, once again, there is no viable partner for Stephen Curry to share the load. At one point, it seemed they would get the James trade done, but they couldn’t.

“That’s why you don’t envision anything until it happens,” Curry said Saturday about the Warriors failing in their pursuit of LeBron, to The Athletic’s Marcus Thompson II.

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“There’s a lot of moving parts.”

Now that Curry’s disappointment is clear, the front office will have to take steps to keep their franchise cornerstone happy. Since he will be an unrestricted free agent next year, the pressure is on the Warriors.

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Analysts have indicated that trading Curry is a possibility

“Curry is still one of the best players in the world,” Kevin O’Connor said. “To not make an effort to win another title with him is truly a joke. And if you’re not gonna do that, then you have to trade him.”

While Curry is no stranger to title droughts, this spell is the longest he has gone without winning the title since 2015. Time is not on his side as he seeks to win a fifth, and he could do so away from ‘The Bay.’

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Even analyst Jason McIntyre said, “Curry should want out of Golden State. They are clearly the biggest losers in the LeBron sweepstakes…I just think there’s everything to love about Steph Curry, except for the fact that he’s stuck on a cra**y Golden State team going nowhere.”

An alarming stat is that the team has not crossed 48 regular season wins since lifting the title in 2022.

Curry will become eligible to sign a new two-year extension of $136.7 million with the Warriors on August 29. But if he chooses not to sign it immediately, he creates uncertainty for the Warriors.

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While fans are panicking about a potential exit, Brian Windhorst stated that there is still a possibility that Golden State could be a contender.

“I’m not sure if they’re going to extend Brandon Podziemski or not, but they are in position to clear $130 to $140 million in cap space if they want — if Steph agrees.”

That financial leverage and the draft stocks can be used to build a roster. Now, the signings may not be on the level of Brown and James. But it would make them much better off than their current situation.

Should Curry not extend, he will still command interest from around the league even at the age of 39. He remains a threat should he have support around him.

A potential move away from the Warriors will see him don new colors for the first time in the NBA, but time will reveal his decision. Primarily, all eyes will be on whether Curry signs his extension in just over a month.

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Written by

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Pranav Kotai

3,308 Articles

Pranav Kotai is an NBA Writer at EssentiallySports, specializing in basketball coverage with a focus on trade dynamics and front-office decision-making. He previously worked on the Trade Desk vertical, where he brought clarity to how salary cap pressures and roster needs shape NBA transactions. His coverage of the Philadelphia 76ers' decision to hold firm on Joel Embiid amid trade speculation highlights how market context and team strategy influence major roster moves. Before joining EssentiallySports, Pranav built experience in professional writing, editorial work, and digital content creation. He holds a postgraduate diploma in digital media, where he mastered the tools to create engaging and credible content across various platforms. Known for his attention to detail, storytelling, and editorial expertise, Pranav combines deep basketball knowledge with sharp analytical skills to deliver clear, insightful perspectives on the complexities of NBA trades and team management.

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Tanay Sahai

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