When the Golden State Warriors signed Jimmy Butler to a two-year max extension after the blockbuster trade, they made their intentions very clear. Aligning his deal with Stephen Curry’s gives the franchise a chance to contend in the short-term while keeping their long-term plans wide open.
With a trio of aging stars, it’s time the Warriors start putting some thought into the future. According to recent developments, they have big aspirations for the next phase of the franchise.
This offseason, the biggest storyline for the Warriors has been the Jonathan Kuminga saga. As other restricted free agents ink deals, the former No. 7 pick remains unsigned. The latest reporting on the topic noted that Golden State offered a $75 million deal recently, but Kuminga declined.
In a recent column for The Athletic, NBA insider Sam Amick weighed in on Kuminga’s ongoing saga with the Warriors. When it comes to his offers, long-term financial flexibility is crucial. Golden State is posturing themselves to be in a good position to go big-game hunting in the summer of 2027 when former MVPs Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic hit the market.
“The length of his deal poses a similar problem to the one the Warriors have had in the negotiations with Kuminga,” Amick wrote. “As they want to maintain maximum flexibility for that 2027 summer (as it stands, they only have Moody’s $13.4 million and Hield’s $10 million player option on the books by then). The Warriors, who are well aware that Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo and Denver’s Nikola Jokic both have player options for the 2027-28 season, are hardly alone on this star-hunting front.”
Curry might still be playing at a high level now, but Father Time remains undefeated. In light of this news, it appears the organization is aiming high when it comes to players he can pass the torch to when he decides to hang it up.