The Golden State Warriors find themselves in a precarious spot - not quite rebuilding, not quite contending, and with the trade deadline fast approaching, there’s little indication that clarity is on the horizon. For fans hoping to see Steph Curry make another deep playoff run in a Warriors jersey, the current situation feels more like a slow drift than a bold push forward.
Let’s start with what we know. According to recent comments from Marcus Thompson II, someone deeply familiar with the Warriors' inner workings, the front office has reportedly passed on trade requests from Curry.
That’s significant. Curry isn’t just the face of the franchise - he is the franchise.
And while Thompson didn’t dive into specifics, he did suggest that the organization may be leaning toward standing pat at the deadline. In a conversation about Steve Kerr’s future with the team, Thompson added, “Steph has endured a lot.
If you can’t give him the trades he wants, just let him have his coach at least.” That’s a loaded quote - one that speaks volumes about both Curry’s influence and the current tension behind the scenes.
Now, to be fair to the Warriors' brass, some of Curry’s past trade preferences haven’t exactly aged like fine wine. Remember the push for Paul George in 2024?
Curry was reportedly involved in that recruitment, but George’s stint in Philadelphia turned into more of a podcast tour than a playoff run. Then there was the 2021-22 desire to bring in Bradley Beal - a talented scorer, yes, but one carrying a notoriously bloated contract.
Curry also wanted to keep Avery Bradley over Gary Payton II, who ended up playing a key role in Golden State’s 2022 title run. Hindsight is 20/20, but it does paint a complicated picture of player-driven roster moves.
Still, the broader issue here isn’t about whether every trade suggestion was a slam dunk. It’s about whether the Warriors are doing enough to maximize the final years of Steph Curry’s prime.
He’s 35 now, still playing at an elite level, and the team around him doesn’t look like one built for a deep playoff push. That’s what makes the current silence from the front office all the more deafening.
ESPN’s Anthony Slater added another layer earlier this week, reporting that it’s “less likely” the Warriors move Jonathan Kuminga before the deadline. That’s notable, especially in the wake of Jimmy Butler’s ACL injury, which could’ve opened the door for more aggressive trade talks across the league. Instead, Golden State appears to be holding firm - or perhaps just stuck.
And that’s really the heart of the issue: this roster feels stuck. The Warriors currently sit eighth in the West, and they’ll be without their second-best player for the foreseeable future.
The player stepping into that role hasn’t exactly shown a burning desire to contribute since mid-November. Monday’s 108-83 blowout loss to the Timberwolves - a game where Curry and Draymond Green sat - was a brutal reminder of just how thin the margins are.
The bench was overwhelmed, the energy was flat, and any hope that someone from the supporting cast might rise to the occasion seemed to evaporate.
So what now? The Warriors are staring down the stretch run with a roster that lacks cohesion, a front office that seems hesitant to make bold moves, and a generational superstar who’s quietly watching his window close. There’s still time to pivot - trades can happen quickly, and a healthy Curry always gives you a shot - but right now, the vibes are more “holding pattern” than “title chase.”
This isn’t how anyone envisioned the twilight of Curry’s career - least of all Curry himself.