Stephen Curry signed a one-year veteran extension in the summer of 2024 worth $62.6 million. His contract with the Golden State Warriors is set to expire at the end of the 2026-27 season, making him an unrestricted free agent next summer.
To negate any shot at Curry entering free agency, the Warriors could choose to extend him this summer. Brian Windhorst, however, believes Golden State may look to wait on extension talks and try to align his contract with other stars on the team.
Brian Windhorst Breaks Down Why the Warriors May Wait To Give Stephen Curry His Extension
Curry is eligible to sign an extension this month worth around $137 million over two seasons after the 2026-27 season wraps up.
Windhorst, on the “Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective” podcast, said, “On the 29th of August he’s extension eligible for his contract. I have argued that it’s possible and should be considered that Steph not sign his contract extension right now.”
“If he wants to sign right now, he could get two years at $140 million. Obviously, if that’s what he says he wants, you give it to him. But if he doesn’t sign his contract extension right now, the Warriors could have over $100 million in salary cap space next summer.”
Curry’s loyalty to the Warriors is tried and tested. If the Warriors do not extend him this summer, it would be a conversation with him that gives the front office absolute reassurance that an extension is coming at a later date.
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“Him, Jimmy Butler, & Draymond Green are all in the last year of their contracts. And it’s not that I’m thinking Steph’s gonna take a LeBron deal, but it’s like you’re going to get the contract whenever you want. Why not leave optionality open?”
LeBron James signed a 2-year, $7.95 million veteran’s minimum with the Philadelphia 76ers. This most certainly will not be the case with Curry.
The Warriors in 2027-28 will have merely $50-60 million in guaranteed salary commitments. The salary cap is projected to be around $174 million that season, and Mike Dunleavy Jr. will have between $133 million and $155 million of cap flexibility to play around with.
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Warriors fans were warned this offseason that 2026-27 could be a “gap year” of sorts with the team returning to form the following year.
If Green, Butler, and Curry are aligned with not signing extensions this summer, they could take team-friendly deals for the 2027-28 season and beyond to allow the Warriors front office to surround them with more talent for one final push for a title.
