The Golden State Warriors Are Getting Ready to Pair Stephen Curry with an NBA Great
The Golden State Warriors are no strangers to building superteams. From their rise in 2015 to their dominance with Kevin Durant from 2016 to 2019, the franchise has always been aggressive in maximizing their championship window. Now, as the 2024 season unfolds, speculation is growing that the Warriors are preparing to pair Stephen Curry with another NBA great. If this happens, it could be one of the most significant moves in recent NBA history.
The Current State of the Golden State Warriors
The Warriors have had a rollercoaster ride over the last few seasons. After winning the 2022 NBA Championship, the team struggled with injuries, chemistry issues, and aging stars in the subsequent seasons. While Stephen Curry remains one of the best players in the league, his supporting cast has fluctuated in effectiveness.
Klay Thompson has battled inconsistency, and Draymond Green, though still a defensive anchor, has seen a decline in his offensive production. Young talents like Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody have shown promise but are not yet ready to carry the torch. The addition of Chris Paul in the offseason added veteran leadership, but it also created questions about fit and longevity.
Given this situation, Warriors’ management, led by General Manager Mike Dunleavy Jr., is looking at making a big splash. With Curry still playing at an elite level, the time to act is now.
Why the Warriors Need Another Superstar
Stephen Curry has defied time, but at 35 years old, the window for contending at the highest level is shrinking. Unlike LeBron James, who relies on his physicality, Curry’s game is based on skill, shooting, and off-ball movement. However, even the best shooters need help, and the current Warriors roster lacks a dominant second scoring option.
Pairing Curry with another elite superstar would relieve some of the offensive burden and make the Warriors a true title contender again. The NBA has shown that two or more superstars are often necessary to compete for championships. The Denver Nuggets have Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray. The Milwaukee Bucks have Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard. The Boston Celtics added Kristaps Porziņģis to their already formidable duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
The Warriors must follow this trend if they want to maximize Curry’s remaining prime years.
Potential NBA Superstars Who Could Join the Warriors
The NBA is a league where superstars frequently change teams. With trades, free agency, and player movement at an all-time high, the Warriors have several options to bring in an elite player.
1. Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers)
Embiid has been one of the most dominant centers in the league, and rumors have circulated about his frustration with the 76ers’ inability to win in the playoffs. If Embiid requests a trade, the Warriors could offer a package centered around young assets and draft picks.
A Curry-Embiid duo would be devastating. Embiid’s ability to score in the post, hit mid-range shots, and play elite defense would give the Warriors a new dimension. The pick-and-roll with Curry and Embiid would be nearly unstoppable, and defensively, he would anchor the paint in a way that Golden State hasn’t seen since Andrew Bogut.
2. Kevin Durant (Phoenix Suns)
Could there be a reunion between Curry and Durant? Durant left the Warriors in 2019 to j