A scenario that seems like science fiction is now being seriously weighed: the Golden State Warriors cutting ties with Stephen Curry. According to a shocking analysis from Golden State of Mind, the team could choose to part ways with its icon in a three-team blockbuster trade for a 31-year-old NBA champion guard, rather than continue wasting the final years of his career.
With a current 13-14 record, the Warriors would be lucky to advance past the Play-In tournament—an alarming reality. While most call for arming Curry with more help, analyst Marc Delucchi proposes a counterintuitive direction: a “rebuild” by trading Curry himself.
Delucchi’s reasoning focuses on two points:
Irrational Waste: The 136-131 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers despite Curry’s 48-point explosion (with 12 threes) is the final proof that the Warriors are squandering his greatness.
An Opportunity for Curry: Sending Curry to the Houston Rockets—home to Alperen Şengün (a Nikola Jokic-style center) and Amen Thompson (a high-IQ, physically imposing guard)—would ensure his stunning contributions are no longer wasted and boost his chances for a fifth title before retirement.
The proposed three-team trade is as follows:
Warriors receive: Reed Sheppard, Jabari Smith Jr., Fred VanVleet, 4 future first-round picks.
Rockets receive: Stephen Curry, Gui Santos.
Pistons receive: Dorian Finney-Smith (acting as a third-team facilitator).
The Warriors would receive a massive future package: two former top-5 young talents (Sheppard, Smith), a seasoned veteran guard (VanVleet), and a treasure trove of 4 first-round picks to kickstart a comprehensive rebuild.
However, this scenario faces monumental obstacles:
Icon & Legacy: Curry isn’t just a player; he is the soul, the legacy, and a massive revenue stream for the Warriors. Proactively trading him is an unprecedented act of “brand vandalism.”
Business Reality: Chase Center was built on Curry’s appeal. Losing him risks losing an entire generation of fans.
Curry’s Own Wishes: While the article suggests Curry might agree for a shot at a title, his deep bond with the Warriors and years of loyalty statements make this unlikely without a formal request from him.
The more plausible and expected scenario remains: The Warriors use their remaining assets (picks, Jonathan Kuminga, Brandin Podziemski…) to seek a second star, building a competitive roster around Curry for his final 2-3 peak years.
The proposal to trade Stephen Curry, while academic and shocking, sounds the loudest alarm bell yet about the Warriors’ state. It exposes a stalemate so severe that the “burn it all down” option is being contemplated.
Yet, in the real world, the truth still leans another way: You never voluntarily part with one of the greatest players in history while he’s still performing at an MVP level. The pressure now must fall on the front office—Joe Lacob and Mike Dunleavy Jr.—to find a way to salvage the season and maximize Stephen Curry, not to plan for a future without him.
The Warriors stand at the cliff edge of a franchise-defining decision. But the first step must be to find help for their savior, not to say goodbye.