Stephen Curry’s next contract decision with the Warriors carries more than one wrinkle, and one of the quieter ones could matter later: if he waits until next offseason, he would be eligible for a no-trade clause.
Golden State and Curry are expected to stay together beyond the 2026-27 season, but the timing of a new deal could shape both the team’s flexibility and Curry’s leverage. One argument for waiting is financial. If Curry holds off until next offseason, the Warriors could have more cap space, and Curry would have a better read on whether he should take less than the max depending on what the Dubs do around him.
The less obvious angle is the no-trade clause, something Spotrac’s Keith Smith pointed out.
"Now, does he need an NTC? Probably not," Smith wrote.
"The Warriors have openly said that they would only trade Curry if he asked for a deal. But things do change in the NBA.
Having an NTC would give Curry full control over where he plays out the latter years of his career."
That option is only on the table if Curry goes into free agency next offseason. If he signs an extension before then, he can’t get one.
In practical terms, a no-trade clause does two things: it keeps a player from being moved without approval, and it gives him control over where he lands if a trade ever does happen. In Curry’s case, the first part may not change much. Joe Lacob and Mike Dunleavy Jr. have made it clear they wouldn’t move him without his consent anyway, and the Warriors obviously wouldn’t ship him off somewhere like the Kings if he wanted out.
The real difference is between a destination Curry merely tolerates and one he actually wants. If he preferred the Hornets, for example, but the Spurs had the stronger trade package, Golden State could choose the better return without a no-trade clause. With one, Curry could block San Antonio and push the deal toward Charlotte.
Still, it’s tough to imagine the no-trade clause being the deciding factor here. Any player would want that kind of protection, and Damian Lillard is the only player currently holding an explicit no-trade clause. But if Curry wants the security of a new deal now, or before next offseason, to guard against an injury or some other hit to his value, it’s hard to picture him choosing to wait just for that extra layer of control.
Even so, it’s a real subplot in the Curry extension picture.
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