I’m not sure how many Celtics fans actually deluded themselves into thinking that the team could trade for Stephen Curry, but the logic at least made sense. Curry’s last few seasons have been largely wasted in Golden State, and the Warriors have done nothing to improve the roster this offseason.
Steph is now 38 years old, but he’s still playing at an incredibly high level. We know he wants to compete for more championships, and we know he can still contribute to winning, but it appears increasingly unlikely that it’s going to happen in the Bay, where he has spent his entire NBA career.
Add that to the fact that he’s going into a contract year, and it’s more than reasonable to speculate about a possible move for the four-time champion to chase another ring or two to boost his legacy and close out his Hall of Fame career in style.
Why the Celtics-Steph Curry trade connection gained traction
The Celtics angle came into play when connecting the dots with Curry’s affinity for the area, his relationship with Jayson Tatum from Team USA, and Boston having a massive salary that would almost work perfectly in a trade for Paul George.
But at this point, it’s nothing more than speculation, and that doesn’t seem likely to change. Curry has repeatedly said he wants to be a one-team star, retiring in Golden State. He has left the door slightly ajar by saying that he also wants to win, but that door seems all but closed after a recent interview on CNBC.
Curry was asked about his contract situation and about seeing his buddy LeBron James switch teams, and whether or not that was something that appealed to him.
“Not at all. I’ve always stated that I want to be a lifer with Golden State. What we’ve built there, the fact that I get to run it back this year with Draymond and Coach Kerr. All the contract stuff, this NBA thing from year to year, is so crazy; things change really fast, but I do know my interest and my mission’s to stay in Golden State and be competitive. The contract stuff will take care of itself.”
As Curry said himself, this NBA stuff is crazy and can change quickly, but this is about as definitive a statement as he can give. It doesn’t sound like he’s waffling at all, or that there are any real thoughts about a chance of scenery to end his career playing in a different uniform.
Steph Curry’s legacy in Golden State was always going to win out
And this really shouldn’t come as any surprise. Despite a few down years recently, Curry has had nothing but success with the Warriors, winning four titles, becoming an icon for that franchise, and creating a legacy that’s absolutely Teflon. Sure, he could go chase another ring or two, and could definitely join a better team and give himself a better chance.
But at this point, he has nothing left to prove or accomplish. Staying with one team for an entire career is a real rarity in the modern NBA, and the idea that he has stuck it out for this long, only to move as he’s about to enter his 40s, doesn’t make much sense.
If we’re being honest with ourselves, this was never much more than a pipe dream for the Celtics, or any other team outside of Golden State. But I think it’s time we can safely put that dream to bed for good. Barring a massive shift, it appears that Stephen Curry will start and end his story as a Warrior.
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