The NBA internet creates a rumor every few years that is so loud that it momentarily seems true. Steph Curry joined the Los Angeles Lakers this summer. Posts go viral quickly. A blockbuster trade had been agreed upon, according to accounts with official-looking graphics. There were rumors that Curry was going to the Lakers in return for Collin Sexton. It is urgent, precise, and dramatic, much like a real scoop.
It’s not real. A trade has not been verified by any reliable reporter. Joe Lacob, owner of the Warriors, referred to the rumors as “clickbait.” On several occasions, general manager Mike Dunleavy has written off outside trade rumors as completely unfounded. According to ESPN’s Anthony Slater, one of the most knowledgeable reporters covering Golden State, Curry and the Warriors are pursuing extension negotiations because they both want to keep him in the Bay Area for the duration of his career. That is how this story is sourced. The other type is the trade posts.
However, it’s important to consider why the rumor has enough traction to continue spreading. The Warriors gave people something to be concerned about, to be honest. Last season, Golden State did not make it to the postseason. Due to injuries, Curry only participated in 43 games. In free agency, the front office made a strong attempt to sign LeBron James but was unsuccessful. Georges Niang and Brandon Williams, two offseason additions, are role players rather than game-changers. Even the most devoted Warriors fan might have felt a little uneasy after looking at that roster.
Curry’s current contract, which is valued at about $62.6 million, is about to expire. On August 29th, he was eligible for an extension. He might be able to play through his age-40 season with the maximum extension on the table, which would add two years and roughly $136.7 million. According to Dunleavy, the talks are “tracking quite well.” Both parties seem to have similar goals in mind. The question is whether Curry will commit right away or wait a few months to see how the season plays out.
Some in the league, such as ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, have argued that waiting might be advantageous for Golden State. After this season, a number of contracts expire, creating over $100 million in cap space the following summer. The Warriors may be able to build around Curry one final time if they take a patient approach. However, waiting has a price as well. Curry’s unsigned status going into February would encourage the kind of trade deadline rumors that divert entire teams. Every sluggish start, every defeat to a team they ought to defeat, and every injury update would add to the commotion.
He has never publicly coerced an organization. Curry has allowed his game to speak louder than his words during his nearly two decades in the league. Regardless of how the contract timeline develops, a late-career departure seems unlikely given that discipline and his sincere love for Golden State.
The Lakers, on the other hand, must deal with their own superstar predicament. Luka Doncic has two guarantyd years remaining on his contract after joining Los Angeles in a blockbuster deal. Tim MacMahon of ESPN pointed out that there are already unspoken concerns about whether other teams are keeping an eye on the situation in case it goes south. Whether Doncic and the Lakers will experience the kind of on-court success that makes any future extension seem inevitable is still up in the air. Curry and Doncic will face off on opening nite on October 21st, which is interesting enough without creating a trade that never occurred.
A fantastic piece of fiction would be Steph Curry joining the Lakers. The true story is actually more fascinating: an aging legend determining how much faith he still has in the company that brought him fame.
