Stephen Curry's Future Uncertain as NBA Free Agency Looms
Stephen Curry's future with the Golden State Warriors remains uncertain, with the 2026 NBA offseason's player movement now concluded and free agency looming on the horizon.
The Warriors have held firm on their stance to re-sign Curry, who is eligible to sign an extension with the team later this month. However, the team's plans for their other key players, including Jimmy Butler, are still unclear.
Jimmy Butler, who signed a two-year extension with the Warriors in 2025, will be 37 years old when the 2026-27 season begins. With one season and $56.8 million remaining on his contract, Butler's future with the team is uncertain. He is currently rehabilitating his surgically repaired right knee, which he injured in January.
According to Stathead, only six players in the NBA last season averaged at least 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists per game while shooting 50% from the field: four former league MVPs, Alperen Şengün, and Butler. At the time of his injury, Butler graded out as a top-15-to-20 player this past season according to advanced metrics.
The Warriors were 12.5 points-per-100 better with Butler on the court than off it when he went down, according to Cleaning the Glass. Among players who logged at least 1,100 minutes last season, only Jokić, Leonard, and Victor Wembanyama had a larger on/off split.
Butler's presence unlocked Curry and elevated the Warriors, with the team going 45-20 in games where the trio of Curry, Butler, and Draymond Green suited up. In non-garbage-time minutes, the Warriors outscored opponents by more than seven points per 100 possessions in Steph/Jimmy/Draymond floor time.
The Warriors have held firm on their stance to get Butler healthy and back on the court, but it remains to be seen what the team will look like when he returns. Will they commit to ponying up to keep him around in an attempt to give Curry one more honest shot?
The prospect of adding a big-wing playmaker with a track record of raising teams' floors and ceilings could be mighty enticing for would-be contenders looking for the missing piece that can tie everything together. As Butler put it shortly after arriving in Golden State: "Honestly — in the most humble way possible — I'm a good fit everywhere."
The market for an about-to-turn 38-year-old a year removed from major knee surgery who has displayed an interesting approach to conflict resolution at multiple past stops will likely be a topic of discussion among front offices. Different organizations will have differing opinions on whether what Butler provides at this stage in his career would be worth what he might cost.
The Warriors have between $50 million and $100 million in cap space, according to ESPN's Bobby Marks. If they choose not to re-sign Butler, what will the market look like for him next year? The answer to that question could have a significant impact on the future of the Golden State Warriors and the NBA as a whole.
Source: Yahoo Sports