The Golden State Warriors’ summer has already become a talking point, and not for the reasons the team wanted. They were tied to LeBron James and Anthony Davis at different points, but those possibilities never turned into anything real. Instead, Golden State mostly added players who had already left a mark with the organization before.
That lack of movement has fueled the idea that the Warriors didn’t do enough. Hoops Habit’s Cal Durrett said the team’s offseason is “quickly going off the rails,” adding that the Warriors “failing to improve their roster this summer should come as a massive disappointment to star Steph Curry.”
From there, the conversation shifted to Curry’s future. ESPN’s Kendrick Perkins went on 'NBA Today' and said, “Steph needs to be planning his exit strategy from the Golden State Warriors," before laying out his case.
“Think about it, over the last four years, the Warriors have been in the play-in tournament. And this year, the way that the West is stacked up, they're gonna be a play-in tournament team again. You can't waste any more time hoping and banking that Mike Dunleavy is gonna get it right or is gonna make the moves that are needed to make sure that you can compete for a title, especially in a tough Western Conference.”
That kind of talk opened the door to trade chatter, and Heavy.com’s Sai Mohan put forward a blockbuster idea: Curry to the San Antonio Spurs for Dylan Harper and De’Aaron Fox.
Under Mohan’s proposal, the Warriors would get “Dylan Harper, De’Aaron Fox, 2028 first-round pick (via BOS) and 2028 first-round pick swap (via SAS).”
For Golden State, the appeal is obvious. Harper would give them a young guard to build around as they start to think about the next phase. For San Antonio, the move would pair Victor Wembanyama with Curry and create a terrifying duo for the rest of the league.
Fox and Harper’s contracts combine for $285 million, and the Spurs would be coming off a Finals shortfall with a deal that would push them even further into contention. On paper, it’s the kind of monster trade that changes the direction of both franchises at once.
In Other News...
Victor Wembanyama Just Landed A New Spurs Role
Victor Wembanyama is heading into the upcoming season with a different kind of responsibility in San Antonio. Along with the pressure that comes with his own rise, he is expected to help guide the Spurs new frontcourt additions and set the tone for a young group that will be leaning on him for more than just production on the floor.
For Jayden Quaintance and Tarris Reed Jr., that means a chance to learn behind a player who has already established himself as the centerpiece of the teams future. Wembanyamas influence could shape not only how the rookies develop, but also how quickly they adjust to the demands and mentality the Spurs want in their rotation. [Read more 🡒]
Dylan Harper Just Changed The Spurs Debate Around DeAaron Fox
Dylan Harper has spent his first year around a Spurs team trying to sort out both its present and its backcourt future, and he does not sound interested in turning De'Aaron Fox into a roster problem. Harper pointed to Fox as a meaningful part of San Antonios success now and down the road, a notable endorsement in a season where the guard rotation and Foxs contract have both been part of the conversation.
Harper also made clear that the fit questions others might raise are not his concern. He said playing alongside multiple ball-handlers has never bothered him, which only adds another layer to a Spurs guard situation that already has plenty of moving pieces. Foxs role in Harpers development is part of that story, and it leaves San Antonio with a familiar kind of good problem as it weighs how to keep this group together. [Read more 🡒]
Dylan Harper Has One Clear Opening In Spurs Young Core
Dylan Harper enters his second NBA season with a clearer path in the Spurs young core, and the timing works in his favor. San Antonio already has Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle drawing attention as the franchise builds around its rising talent, but Harpers growth late in his rookie year gave the team another reason to believe he can become a real part of the rotation moving forward.
Harpers shooting was the biggest swing factor, and it improved enough down the stretch to make his case stronger heading into the offseason. The expectation now is that he will handle a larger role, though one of the open questions is whether that means a spot in the starting group or more impact minutes off the bench if the jumper keeps holding up. [Read more 🡒]