Warriors Urged to Take Drastic Stephen Curry Step

The Golden State Warriors have not played with star guard Stephen Curry since the end of January, a stretch of 19 games that has been, to put it mildly, brutal. The team’s young players have gotten a chance, and at times, there have been some inspired performances. But the net result is a 6-13 mark that would have torpedoed the Dubs in most seasons. But because there are still so many tankers afoot in the West, the Warriors will have a shot at the play-in tournament and, after that, the playoffs.

They’re taking the line of thought that, getting Curry into the one of the playoff spots at least opens the window of opportunity, even if it would come against juggernauts like the Thunder or the Spurs. If they can get Al Horford and Moses Moody healthy, with new big man Kristaps Porzingis and a returning Curry, they have a shot, as coach Steve Kerr said to, “do some damage.”

That’s debatable. But what’s not debatable is that the upcoming NBA draft is considered to be loaded. And the Warriors might be better off mailing it in on this postseason, securing the best spot that they can get for the draft, and looking to 2026-2027.

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Warriors Could Keep Lottery Chances Alive

That’s not a popular view within the Warriors team offices. But it’s a sensible one, and one that longtime NBA writer Marc Spears says the Warriors ought to take.

Speaking on 95.7 The Game in San Francisco, Spears said the Warriors should shut down Curry, who has been dealing with patellar tendinitis. Scratching and clawing for play-in positioning is not worth it, nor is winning a play-in game (or two) and going to be slaughtered by Oklahoma City.

If the Warriors do not make the playoffs, remember, they will be in the lottery and will at least have a slim chance to win the top spot, or even one of the Top 4 spots–where stars abound.

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Warriors Plan on Playing Stephen Curry in the Play-in

Here’s what Spears said about the Warriors’ outlook: “I think Steph and the Warriors are very realistic about what this is. At best, maybe it gets them a first-round berth. But the worst-case scenario might be the best-case scenario. Because right now, they have the 11^th pick in the draft before the draft lottery. To me, that’s better odds than what Dallas had when they got Cooper Flagg.

“You don’t know sports, you don’t know what’s going to happen. That’s the beauty of sports, is the unknown. You go to the draft lottery, and you just see what happens. To me, that is more important than whether Steph could play against Portland on the road.”

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Stephen Curry Could Play With a Star Rookie in 2026-27

The top of the NBA draft features AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Cam Boozer and Caleb Wilson (who’s out with a broken thumb), and all have top-pick potential. By staying in the lottery, the Warriors keep alive their hopes for adding one of those players. By winning a playoff spot, they have not such chance.

Even staying at No. 11 would be beneficial–there’s a chance that someone will slip in this draft, perhaps a player like Louisville’s Mikel Brown Jr, who Top 5 talent but has had back issues that could scare teams off.

The Warriors have been clear about wanting a playoff spot. But that’s short-sighted–Spears urges them to stay in the lottery.

Said Spears: “The reward is the youth right now that’s coming up in one of the most special drafts in NBA history this summer. Somebody’s going to drop to 11. Somebody special is gonna kind of fall into their lap.”

 

 

Sean Deveney is a veteran sports reporter covering the NBA, NFL and MLB for Heavy.com. He has written for Heavy since 2019 and has more than two decades of experience covering the NBA, including 17 years as the lead NBA reporter for the Sporting News. Deveney is the author of 7 nonfiction books, including “Fun City,” “Before Wrigley became Wrigley,” and “Facing Michael Jordan.” More about Sean Deveney