The Golden State Warriors entered the offseason with a grand plan to reunite Anthony Davis and LeBron James in the Bay Area, forming a Big Four of James, Davis, Stephen Curry, and Draymond Green.
Green turned heads when he surprisingly opted out of his deal to clear cap room. However, it quickly became clear that the Warriors would not be acquiring Davis, and they eventually lost out on James as well.
Now, they bring back a roster that will likely have trouble making the playoffs, much less contending for a championship, which has put Curry’s future in doubt.
NBA World Wants to See Stephen Curry Play for His Hometown Hornets
Earlier this month, Curry was asked whether he’d be content running it back with the Warriors’ current roster if they missed out on James. Now that James has officially signed with the Philadelphia 76ers, it’s interesting to revisit his answer.
“I mean, it’s TBD,” Curry admitted. “‘Cause it’s what free agency is about. I know Bron is in a situation where the league is waiting, but other than that, it’s great to get KP (Kristaps Porziņģis) back, it’s great to get Mel (De’Anthony Melton) back. We’re in a very unique situation ’cause Jimmy [Butler]’s hurt, and Moses [Moody] is hurt, and they’re gonna miss a good amount of the season. You gotta try to hold the fort down as much as you can until those guys get back ’cause we do have an idea of who we could be with them. But I know Mike [Dunleavy Jr.], Steve [Kerr], and Joe [Lacob], they’re all doing the best they can to make the right decisions with what’s available.”
PFN’s Alex Kennedy and others in the NBA world wondered if Curry could be on his way out.
“Earlier this month, Stephen Curry was asked if he’d be content running it back with the Warriors’ current roster if LeBron James didn’t choose Golden State,” Kennedy said. “His response? ‘I mean, it’s TBD.’ Could Curry be the next star to change teams this offseason?” Kennedy asked.
“Stephen Curry on his hometown Hornets could be a lot of fun… PG: Stephen Curry SG: Kon Knueppel SF: Brandon Miller PF: Naz Reid C: Hannes Steinbach,” Kennedy added.
Stephen Curry on his hometown Hornets could be a lot of fun…
PG: Stephen Curry
SG: Kon Knueppel
SF: Brandon Miller
PF: Naz Reid
C: Hannes Steinbach— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) July 27, 2026
The Athletic’s Marcus Thompson recently reported on Curry’s frustrations with Golden State’s front office.
“He wants to win. He wants the best team the Warriors can assemble around him. He wants a chance, a real chance, for a deep playoff run. The longer it takes for him to sign a contract extension, the more you can bet Curry’s using potential free agency as a tool to keep the Warriors pushing toward that end,” wrote Thompson.
With rumblings that Curry is no longer on the same page as the Warriors’ front office, plus NBA Central’s post that there’s “some momentum” behind Curry potentially leaving Golden State, podcaster Cuffs the Legend also called for a Charlotte homecoming.
“Golden State’s incompetent front office got complacent & lazy after winning those 4 titles with Steph and they have already wasted enough of his golden years ever since then,” he wrote. “it’s time to COME HOME 30!
“just imagine the buzz in the city of Charlotte if they brought STEPHEN CURRY back home!” he added in a recent post.
Golden State’s incompetent front office got complacent & lazy after winning those 4 titles with Steph and they have already wasted enough of his golden years ever since then
it’s time to COME HOME 30! https://t.co/RaF2ujXRzv pic.twitter.com/2gPXN5vELC
— 73-9 and THEY LIED (@CuffsTheLegend) July 27, 2026
Hoop Herald liked the idea as well, comparing Curry and Hornets’ sharpshooter Kon Knueppel to Curry and former Warriors teammate Klay Thompson, known as the Splash Brothers.
“Liked @CuffsTheLegend idea of Steph in Charlotte,” they explained. “Kon and Steph would be Splash Brothers 2.0.”
Liked @CuffsTheLegend idea of Steph in Charlotte
Kon and Steph would be Splash Brothers 2.0 https://t.co/IEoyeU77cP
— Hoop Herald (@TheHoopHerald) July 27, 2026
Interestingly, Evan Cohen linked Curry to the Hornets earlier today on ESPN.
“I think that Steph Curry ultimately finishes his career with the Warriors. That said, right now, today, is the first time it is justifiable to entertain the conversation about him going back home to Charlotte,” Cohen said.
“Not because he will. And not because a trade will be made, but simply because the Charlotte Hornets arguably had the single best offseason, non-LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo or Jaylen Brown related, of any team in the league. They are loaded with draft picks. They are loaded with contracts of players that another team would want. And they have players in Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel that maybe Steph would say, ‘I can see myself mentoring those two on the way out.'”
🎙️ ESPN’s @EvCoRadio: “I think that Steph Curry ultimately finishes his career with the Warriors. That said, right now, today, is the first time it is justifiable to entertain the conversation about him going back home to Charlotte.”
“Not because he will. And not because a trade… pic.twitter.com/h6XC20QGTO
— r/CharlotteHornets (@HornetsReddit) July 27, 2026
The Ringer’s Bill Simmons also argued that Curry is stuck in “purgatory,” and the main loser of James’ free-agency decision.
“Why are you so desperate just to waste the end of the Steph era?” Simmons added.
“Why are you so desperate just to waste the end of the Steph era?”@BillSimmons on why Steph Curry and the Warriors are the biggest losers from the LeBron free agency saga. pic.twitter.com/gtgaE82vzm
— The Ringer (@ringer) July 27, 2026
The Hornets with Curry would boast a pretty impressive lineup, and they have already had a very busy offseason after trading away LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges.
It remains to be seen if Curry will actually decide he’s done in the Bay Area. If he does, there will no shortage of suitors, but Charlotte will continue to come up given his hometown and family ties to the franchise, as his father Dell is still a Hornets broadcaster and his jersey is in the rafters at Spectrum Center.
