3. Stephen Curry
Steph Curry has been and will likely always be a Warrior—that is undisputed. However, the future of the Warriors is not as clear-cut. Golden State is navigating two timelines: the older, more experienced champions like Draymond Green, Andrew Wiggins, and Curry, and a younger group of prospects such as Brandin Podziemski, Jonathan Kuminga, and Moses Moody.
The Warriors have been trending downward since winning the championship in 2022, with a second-round exit to the Lakers in 2023 and a disappointing play-in loss to the Kings last season. The team is at a crossroads, made even more uncertain by the potential departure of Klay Thompson.
Curry has expressed his desire to be a "Warrior for life," but he also acknowledges that "the NBA is a wild environment, and things change quickly." He has made it clear that he wants to win.
As a four-time NBA champion with only a few years left in his career, the question remains: if Golden State chooses to rebuild and focus on its young core, is it guaranteed that Steph will stick around?
Most legends do not stay with one team—it is a rarity. Even Miami's finest, Dwyane Wade, left for Chicago in the 2016 offseason. There are two pathways: Curry has two years left on his current contract and is set to be a free agent after the 2025-26 season. Alternatively, if Golden State suspects Curry might leave, they could consider trading him with one year left on his deal.
Acquiring the Hall of Fame point guard would require a significant package. If Golden State acquired Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Kel'el Ware in a deal for Curry, they would have a core of Podziemski, Kuminga, Jaquez, Ware, and Moody—one of the most exciting young cores in the league.
Steph's fit with the Heat would be perfect. If you think Duncan Robinson running off Bam's screens and working the handoff action is scary, imagine if that were Curry instead. The best shooter in the league with arguably the best screensetter would be nearly impossible to contain. Considering Butler and Curry's age, this would be another all-in play, but Curry fits right into Erik Spoelstra's offensive sets and would undoubtedly boost the team's scoring production.