Add The California Post on Google The Golden State Warriors are prepared to give Stephen Curry something even more valuable than a maximum contract: maximum control.
Beginning Saturday, Curry can sign a two-year, $136.7 million extension that would keep him with Golden State through the 2028-29 season. Added to the approximately $62.5 million he will earn this season, the deal would represent a commitment of more than $199 million over the next three years and carry Curry through his 41st birthday.
Golden State is apparently willing to let him decide whether that is the right arrangement.
ClutchPoints’ NBA Insider Brett Siegel reported that the Warriors are prepared to offer Curry the full maximum, accept a discounted deal that preserves roster flexibility or let him delay negotiations until he enters unrestricted free agency next summer.
“They’re going to go to Steph and say, ‘What type of deal do you want?’” Siegel said.
That is effectively a blank check, but Curry’s answer will shape far more than his personal earnings.
The Warriors reportedly have no intention of trading Curry. The franchise icon has not requested a move and remains expected to retire with the only NBA team he has known. Paying him is the easy part. Building a contender around that salary is considerably more complicated.
Golden State has explored blockbuster moves for Giannis Antetokounmpo, LeBron James and Jaylen Brown without landing any of them. Its aging roster also lacks a proven young successor capable of carrying the franchise once Curry leaves.
A full extension would reward the greatest player in team history but consume resources that could otherwise help Golden State chase another star. A discount would create additional flexibility, although it would require Curry to trust ownership to turn his financial sacrifice into meaningful help.
Waiting could be the most revealing option. Curry could preserve the Warriors’ spending power next summer, evaluate their roster plan and potentially negotiate a longer contract in 2027. A delay would not necessarily indicate that he wants to leave, but it would invite questions about whether he still believes another championship is possible in Golden State.
Curry’s age and recent health also make the commitment unusual. He played only 43 games last season after a knee issue cost him approximately two months. The Warriors nevertheless appear willing to absorb that risk because Curry’s value extends beyond ordinary roster calculations.
He delivered four championships, transformed the franchise and remains its commercial identity. Golden State is prepared to mortgage part of its future to ensure he never wears another uniform, even as ownership prepares for life after Curry.
The only unresolved question is how large Curry wants that mortgage to be.
