The Golden State Warriors still talk about maximizing Stephen Curry’s championship window. Their latest reported priority, however, appears focused on what comes after it closes.
Warriors owner Joe Lacob wants to prove the organization can remain successful once Curry is no longer leading the franchise, according to longtime Bay Area reporter Tim Kawakami.
Joe Lacob reportedly wants to build beyond Stephen Curry, raising questions about whether the Warriors are still all-in on another title. Robert Sabo for NY Post
“What Lacob wants to do, and this might get Warriors fans mad, but he wants to build the next team after Steph Curry,” Kawakami said on The TK Show. “I don’t know how possible that is, but Lacob has a very keen interest in ‘This organization is going to show what it can do with Steph Curry and then after Steph Curry.’ I don’t think it’s going to be as good myself, but that’s what he wants to do.”
That ambition is understandable for an owner responsible for the franchise’s long-term health. It may be harder for fans to accept while Curry remains capable of chasing a fifth championship.
Golden State Valkyries and Golden State Warriors owner Joe Lacob claps during the third quarter against the Washington Mystics IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Golden State pursued LeBron James this offseason but lost him to the Philadelphia 76ers. Rather than immediately pivoting toward another major acquisition, the Warriors appear prepared to preserve their draft capital, re-sign Draymond Green and continue balancing an aging core with younger players.
That strategy has produced mixed results before.
Golden State previously attempted a two-timeline plan built around Curry, Green and Klay Thompson while developing James Wiseman, Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody. Wiseman became one of the most costly draft misses in franchise history, while Kuminga was eventually traded without becoming the foundational star the organization envisioned.
The Warriors still control most of their future first-round picks, giving them enough assets to pursue another established player. But holding those selections also protects Lacob’s effort to construct a post-Curry roster.
That creates an uncomfortable question: Is Golden State doing everything possible to win now, or is it already limiting its spending power and trade flexibility to prepare for the future?
Curry is expected to sign a two-year extension that could keep him with the only franchise he has ever played for through the end of his career. He will enter next season at 38, while Green and Jimmy Butler are also nearing the final stages of their careers.
Lacob may eventually get his chance to prove the Warriors can win without Curry.
Warriors fans would probably prefer he wait until Curry is finished before making that the priority.
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