With less than a month left before the regular season begins, Stephen Curry could still start it as an expiring contract. Although he has been eligible for an extension since August 29, the point guard has not yet decided how he will manage his future, a situation that has generated a degree of uncertainty around the team. But that is something he wants to avoid, and he has made that clear as soon as he was able to speak on the matter.
“I don’t want there to be any drama or for us to be talking about this all the time,” he stated. “It will happen when I have all the information I need to make the right decision. The club has been terrific, and we’ve kept a constant dialogue. I’ll make the decision when I’m ready, and if I don’t sign, it won’t affect my game.”
Curry wanted to emphasize that his questions aren’t about a possible desire to leave the Warriors, but about how much his salary should be adjusted so the franchise can stay competitive in an environment with as many salary-cap rules as the current one. Right now, California’s team is projected to have more than $100 million in cap space for next summer, but if Steph takes the maximum extension, that could fall to just over $40 million.
“Whether I sign for the max or not can greatly influence things, and I want to be on a competitive team,” he acknowledged. “I want us to have a bit of flexibility because it’s something we haven’t been able to enjoy in recent years. We should be able to make the necessary moves depending on what happens, and that’s something I have to consider. I need to evaluate how we’ve fared in recent years, where I am in my career, and how the team looks this year.”
Time to Forgive Money?
In this way, Curry may be signaling that he is considering a salary reduction to help Golden State assemble a competitive squad after several years away from the top tier. The San Francisco club has spent many seasons among the league’s priciest, piling up massive contracts, and that has forced other moves to be modest and of limited impact. And thus, it is difficult to forge a contender.
Therefore, if Steph wants to compete in the final years of his career, perhaps it will be necessary to give up several millions to be better surrounded. Although one can imagine that, before doing so, he will want the franchise to explain how they plan to use that money.
