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Every Warriors fan knows the inevitable truth that the Stephen Curry era will eventually end. What has been most difficult to grasp is that the organization has reached a fork in the road. The roster isn’t good enough to win now or be competitive in a playoff setting. The Warriors also don’t have enough young talent proven to carry the torch once Curry retires.
With Jimmy Butler rehabbing his torn ACL and Curry set to be an unrestricted free agent next season, there are an abundance of questions that need answers. The 2026-27 season will provide clarity on which direction the organization is headed in and what Curry’s final years will look like.
Two Injuries Sent the Warriors Into a Free Fall
When Curry strained his hamstring in the 2025 Western Conference Semifinals, the consensus was that if Curry and Butler could be healthy at the same time, they would be a tough out for any opponent. All they needed was health. That prayer was rejected, and the organization has been in free fall since.
Two major points last season signaled that the Warriors were back to square one: The front office trading Jonathan Kuminga to the Hawks and Butler tearing his ACL.
Their veteran star who offered great hope to extend Curry’s prime had just suffered a season-ending injury. The highly touted, young forward who many hoped would be their future for the post-Curry era was gone.
The Warriors were directionless.
In the aftermath of Butler’s injury, Steve Kerr admitted that Curry’s basketball workload would inherently increase. As sensational as Curry is, it is unrealistic to expect the 38-year-old to carry the ship without his Robin.
It had become more and more evident that the Kuminga experiment wasn’t working. After getting off to a strong start very early last season, Kuminga reverted to the same head-scratching tendencies that saw him benched. When Kerr refused to play him even after Butler went down, the writing was on the wall.
As if the aforementioned tribulations weren’t enough to brood over, things got worse. The final blow came when Moses Moody ruptured his patellar tendon on March 23.
The Warriors Failed to Build for the Present or the Future
To say the Warriors struggled to maximize Curry’s final years while developing young talent is an understatement. Ideally, the Warriors would have loved to do both. Instead, they’ve done neither.
The Warriors have continued to frustrate as they made zero deals this offseason to acquire help for Curry. While other Western Conference teams added pieces this offseason, Golden State stood pat. The Warriors’ inaction suggests the front office has already accepted the reality.
Curry, Kerr, and Draymond Green have reportedly come to terms with the possibility that the days of chasing a title may be over.
“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. “How do you get through their absence and still stay at a certain level? And then how that goes into this year. It’s the same deal. So I’m a realist on that.”
He is holding onto optimism that Butler and Moody can still be productive enough to help win games.
“And you hope that they both come back healthy, and we can play at a level that keeps us relevant and competitive and builds a foundation so that we can figure out what it looks like. But that is the situation. We don’t live in any alternative universe.”
On Green’s side of things, the 36-year-old recently signed a $27.7 million extension with the Warriors. It is particularly noteworthy that there isn’t a no-trade clause attached to the deal; therefore, the Warriors can trade him during the season. Green’s deal with the team that drafted him runs until the end of the 2026-27 season – when Curry and Butler’s contracts expire.
The uncertainty surrounding the team’s path forward is why this season is so pivotal.
This Season Will Define the Warriors’ Direction
With Butler and Moody slated to miss much of the season, Curry is tasked with carrying the team again. Whether or not he can do so may be the tipping point for the organization directionally.
General Manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. has stated on numerous occasions that Butler will not be traded as he continues to recover. Either Dunleavy will follow through on his words and the team will see how Butler plays upon return, or Butler will be shipped off, and the Warriors can close that chapter.
Despite the turbulence of the last few years, Curry continually reaffirms his desire to remain a Warrior.
Incoming rookie Yaxel Lendeborg’s addition makes the equation interesting. He has shown signs of a player who possesses the IQ to make an impact immediately and the youth to stick around for the Warriors’ future. Though Lendeborg’s career won’t be defined by his first season, it will indicate to the Warriors if he could be the missing puzzle piece to revive the two-timeline hope.
By the end of this season, the team will know the health status of Moody and Butler (if he stays). They will also know whether or not their vets are going to stay Warriors.
The Fading Dynasty Needs One More Season for Clarity
It was nearly eight months ago that Kerr called the Warriors “a fading dynasty.” Now, those words feel truer than ever.
The predicament the Warriors find themselves in is not one any organization would want. Curry deserves the opportunity to compete for a championship, or at least have clarity on what the ending of his career looks like.
With so much unpredictability still lingering, the Warriors just need to make it through the upcoming season. Then, they will get a better picture of who will be on the roster and what the realistic expectations are for the future.
The post This Season Will Define What Comes Next for the Warriors appeared first on The Lead.
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