As time goes on, it’s becoming increasingly unlikely that Stephen Curry is going to win another championship as long as he’s with the Golden State Warriors.
Though Curry’s preference seems to be staying with the team that drafted him, there’s always a chance he catches a wandering eye and seeks greener pastures elsewhere, especially after an offseason that saw multiple superstars change addresses in an effort to earn another Larry O’Brien trophy.
What would be some good fits for the two-time MVP? Let’s take a look.
San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs could be the best fit, but you would probably have to ask the Warriors to keep De’Aaron Fox and his bloated salary on the books for the next few years.
The Spurs could entice the Warriors to pull the trigger by adding multiple first-round picks, Dylan Harper, Stephon Castle or Carter Bryant to the deal, but San Antonio would likely prefer to keep all of them in the fold, or at the very minimum, not have to sacrifice Harper and Castle.
Victor Wembanyama and Curry would immediately form arguably the deadliest duo in the league. Curry’s 3-point gravity would open more opportunities inside for Wemby, and Wemby’s gravity inside would open up cleaner looks for Curry behind the arc.
San Antonio’s size and length on the perimeter would also help them cover for Curry’s defensive shortcomings.
If the Spurs can find a way to pull this off without sacrificing Harper, you might as well pencil them in as clear favorites next season.
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics controversially traded Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers this offseason, significantly hurting their chances of being truly competitive next season.
However, they can easily get right back into the mix if they find a way to land Curry, which would likely involve flipping Paul George’s loaded contract and multiple first-round draft picks.
Derrick White would ease the defensive burden on Curry and Payton Pritchard could eat a lot of minutes at point guard during the regular season to keep Curry’s legs fresh for the postseason.
If the Celtics want to maximize Jayson Tatum’s prime, they need to make moves that would help them win now. However, the Celtics would likely need to get it done within the next couple of years, as Curry is two years away from his 40th birthday.
Miami Heat
The Miami Heat would be an excellent fit for Curry, giving him a chance to team up with Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The 3-point shooting opportunities would be limitless for Curry with Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo relentlessly putting pressure on the rim.
Both Antetokounmpo and Adebayo are also extremely adept at setting their teammates up for clean looks, which would mesh extremely well with Curry’s off-ball movement.
It might be hard for Miami to roster Antetokounmpo, Adebayo and Curry in the apron era, but Erik Spoelstra and the Heat have found ways to replenish depth after making big moves, so this is a move that could be worth exploring.
