Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry addressed the team missing out on LeBron James after the four-time MVP announced his decision to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers. James stretched his free agency out for more than three weeks, during which the Warriors and other suitors held out hope according to CBS Sports. Once James opted for Philadelphia, Curry told Marcus Thompson II of Nytimes that his reaction to the outcome was pragmatic. That’s why you don’t envision anything until it happens,
Curry said from Moses Moody’s youth camp, noting that there are a lot of moving parts.
Stephen Curry Reacts to LeBron James Choosing the Philadelphia 76ers
By the time Curry spoke publicly about the decision, the disappointment of missing out on another difference-making addition had already morphed into acceptance Nytimes. The Warriors had spent the last four years in Play-In tournament purgatory, and with James heading to the Eastern Conference, Golden State’s options for immediate roster upgrades have grown thin Nytimes.
Assessing Golden State’s Roster Realities for the 2026–27 Season
Entering his 18th season at 38 years old, Curry remains a realist about the challenges facing Golden State heading into the 2026–27 NBA season Nytimes and Bleacher Report. Addressing the difficulties of keeping the roster intact through injuries, Curry pointed to previous absences from teammates. The through line, which is hard on anybody in this situation, especially with us keeping this thing together, is knowing that when Jimmy got hurt and Moses got hurt, the whole calculus of everything changes,
Curry said according to Bleacher Report.
The Warriors roster features an aging core, with Curry, Draymond Green, and Jimmy Butler all in their mid-30s, and Butler recovering from a torn ACL according to Bleacher Report. Golden State’s front office lacked the means to make major moves, though general manager Mike Dunleavy still has time to pursue short-term upgrades according to Bleacher Report. Previously, DeMar DeRozan was linked to the franchise earlier in the month before James made his choice according to Bleacher Report.
Draymond Green and James Harden Await New Long-Term Deals
Both Draymond Green and James Harden declined player options to clear space while waiting to see if their respective teams could successfully land James according to CBS Sports. With James now bound for Philadelphia, both players are expected to work out new long-term agreements to return to their teams according to CBS Sports.
Green is expected to sign a contract in the $28 million range, closely matching the amount he declined on his player option according to CBS Sports. Meanwhile, Harden’s new deal is anticipated to be a sizable long-term contract, though it will likely fall short of the $42.3 million annual figure he turned down according to CBS Sports. Finalizing these contracts remains a priority as the Warriors work to fill remaining roster spots and address rotation depth according to CBS Sports.
