The NBA season is heating up, and as always, the holidays bring more than just marquee matchups - they stir up trade chatter too. This year, one of the boldest ideas making waves comes from none other than Bill Simmons, who floated a scenario that would’ve sounded unthinkable not long ago: Stephen Curry, the face of the Golden State Warriors, being traded to the Charlotte Hornets.
Let’s be clear - the idea of Curry in anything other than a Warriors jersey is jarring. He’s not just the franchise cornerstone; he is the franchise.
From three titles to two MVPs to redefining how the game is played, Curry’s legacy in the Bay is etched in stone. But Simmons is asking a question that, given the Warriors’ current state, might not be as far-fetched as it once seemed.
“Are we at the point where Curry to Charlotte - we should just do it?” Simmons asked during a recent segment. “I don’t want to upset Warriors fans, I don’t want to trade Stephen Curry before Christmas, but he grew up there, his dad’s there, there’s shots of him on the court as a kid, he’s always talked about ending his career there.”
Simmons went on to suggest a hypothetical deal: Curry to the Hornets in exchange for LaMelo Ball and a package of draft picks. His reasoning?
The Warriors, sitting at a middling .500 mark, don’t look like contenders. And with Draymond Green’s recent ejection and sideline blow-up with head coach Steve Kerr - a moment that played out during a loss to the Orlando Magic - the team’s chemistry and direction are under serious scrutiny.
That incident between Green and Kerr wasn’t just a blip. It was a flashpoint, the kind of moment that sparks bigger questions about a team’s long-term viability.
And Simmons is leaning into that uncertainty. If the Warriors are no longer a threat in the West, is it time to pivot?
Is it time to start thinking about a future beyond the Curry-Draymond-Klay core?
The idea of Curry returning to Charlotte - where he grew up, where his father Dell played a decade with the Hornets, where young Steph once shot around on the old Charlotte Coliseum court - carries a certain emotional weight. Simmons isn’t just pitching a basketball trade; he’s tapping into a full-circle narrative.
Of course, that doesn’t make it any easier to picture. Curry remains the Warriors’ heartbeat, and even in a turbulent season, he’s still producing at an elite level. Trading him would be seismic - not just for Golden State, but for the league.
Meanwhile, the Warriors are preparing for their annual Christmas Day spotlight. This year, they’ll face off against Luka Dončić and the Dallas Mavericks.
It’s a matchup loaded with star power, but it arrives at a time when Golden State is trying to find its footing. At 15-15, they’re clinging to the eighth seed in the West - a far cry from the dynastic dominance we’ve come to expect.
Still, Curry remains a steady presence, both on and off the court. Ahead of the holiday game, he shared a heartfelt message with fans on social media: “Always a blessing to play on Christmas.
So many great memories from over the years! Happy holidays everyone.”
Alongside the message were snapshots from past Christmas matchups - moments with LeBron James, Klay Thompson, and Andre Iguodala, reminders of the battles and brotherhoods that have defined his journey.
So while the trade talk swirls and the Warriors try to rediscover their rhythm, Curry is still doing what he does best - leading with grace, competing with fire, and reminding us why he’s one of the game’s all-time greats.
Whether or not the idea of a Charlotte homecoming ever moves beyond speculation, one thing’s certain: any conversation about trading Stephen Curry isn’t just about basketball. It’s about legacy, identity, and the emotional threads that tie players to the cities they’ve defined.