For a long time, Steph Curry in a Charlotte Hornets uniform lived in the realm of basketball daydreams. It was the kind of idea people tossed around, laughed at, and moved on from.
Now, though, the conversation has picked up a little steam. The Golden State Warriors are headed the wrong way, while the Hornets are moving in the opposite direction. That alone makes the idea feel less far-fetched than it used to.
The latest wrinkle comes from Warriors owner Joe Lacob. According to a report from Warriors insider Tim Kawakami, Lacob is focused on what comes next after Curry. If that’s the direction Golden State is taking, the clock on a post-Curry plan would need to start ticking soon.
The Warriors already missed on LeBron James, and now they’re left with an injured Jimmy Butler, Curry, and presumably Draymond Green once he re-signs. None of those names point to a long runway. Golden State also doesn’t have much young, cornerstone-level talent in place, which makes a reset feel more likely than a retool.
That leaves the uncomfortable possibility of moving one of the aging stars. Butler is a tough sell because he’s recovering from a torn ACL and carries a massive contract.
Green isn’t even technically on the roster yet. Curry, as painful as it would be, is the player who would bring back the most value and clear the most cap space.
If he ever became available - and that is still a huge if - Charlotte would have a real case. The Hornets need another point guard right now. Coby White is solid, but the depth chart behind him with Sion James, Tre Mann, and Christian Anderson Jr. isn’t exactly built to carry the load.
The problem is that making a Curry deal work would be brutally complicated. The Hornets can’t use their $40.7 million trade exemption, the largest in NBA history, because Curry’s salary is well above that number.
Charlotte also just moved off two of its most useful contracts in LaMelo Ball’s huge salary and Miles Bridges’ expiring deal. Pulling this off would likely take major creativity and probably a third or fourth team. The Hornets could also use the trade exemption to absorb a bloated contract as part of the mechanics.
Still, the fit is easy to see. The Hornets need a guard, have plenty of assets, and like shooters.
The Warriors want assets to help with a rebuild. It’s still extremely unlikely Curry ever wears anything but a Warriors uniform, but the door has opened just a crack.
And if Curry were somehow on the table, he’d still be good enough to make Charlotte a legitimate contender depending on the price. That alone makes it a conversation worth having.
In Other News...
Hornets Fans Know Exactly Why This New Topps Release Will Sting
Topps is lining up a fresh round of basketball card buzz with its 2025-26 Chrome Black release, and the timing figures to matter in Charlotte. Pre-orders open Tuesday, July 28 at 12 p.m. EST on the companys website, with the product set to include rookie cards, parallels, inserts like Carbon Flare and Home Court, and autographs from some of the sports biggest names.
For Hornets fans, though, the real draw is the rookie chase, especially with Kon Knueppel and Cooper Flagg among the names in the set. The only thing still hanging over the release is the price tag, which Topps has not announced yet, leaving collectors to wonder how steep the entry point will be when the pre-order window opens. [Read more 🡒]
Should Hornets Risk Scarce Assets On Peyton Watson's Upside
Peyton Watson has become the sort of restricted free agent who can make a front office pause, especially for a team like Charlotte that is still hunting for young, two-way talent without much margin for error. The Hornets have been linked to the idea of working out a sign-and-trade with Denver, a path that would let the Nuggets manage their cap situation while giving Charlotte a chance to buy into Watsons upside rather than waiting for the market to sort itself out.
The appeal is obvious after Watsons recent season in Denver, when he flashed real value on both ends and looked like a player whose game was starting to turn a corner. The risk is just as clear, though, because the sample is still small and the cost of chasing that kind of promise can be steep for a team that needs every asset to count. If Charlotte is serious, the question is not whether Watson fits the profile of a worthwhile swing, but how much of its future it is willing to put on the table to get him. [Read more 🡒]
Gilbert Arenas Just Flipped The LaMelo Play In Blame Game
Gilbert Arenas has a habit of turning a familiar basketball argument on its head, and this time the debate circles back to a Charlotte moment that still lingers. LaMelo Ball was fined by the NBA after a hard foul that sent Bam Adebayo out of a play-in game late in overtime, and the play quickly became part of the larger conversation about how much force was too much in a game with so much on the line.
Arenas, though, pushed the discussion in a different direction by disputing the criticism aimed at Ball and suggesting the focus should not be on Charlottes guard at all. His take adds another layer to a sequence that already drew plenty of attention, even if the larger claim around the injury and Miamis handling of it remains exactly the kind of thing that keeps the blame game humming long after the final buzzer. [Read more 🡒]