Stephen Curry is not panicking after the Warriors' failed star transfer efforts

The clock is ticking for the Golden State Warriors. There was already a great urgency to surround Stephen Curry with as much talent as possible to give the four-time NBA champion a chance at another ring, but Curry's performance in the final two games of the U.S. team's gold medal run at the 2024 Paris Olympics made it even clearer that the team had a sense of responsibility to give Curry the best possible chance to win.

Curry is already 36 years old and there is currently no guarantee how long he will remain one of the best players in the league. Unfortunately, the Warriors were unsuccessful in their pursuit of several stars, namely Paul George and Lauri Markkanen, and the Dubs will enter the 2024-25 season with a lot of uncertainty about their status as contenders.

Nevertheless, according to Anthony Slater of The Athletic, Stephen Curry “showed no signs of panic or anxiety” after the Warriors' attempt to sign a second star failed.

Curry hasn't completely ruled out the possibility of leaving the Warriors if they become one of the worst teams in the league. But the Dubs' roster as it stands should be good enough to compete for a playoff spot in the crowded Western Conference — something that could satisfy Curry in the later years of his career.

The 36-year-old star has two years and $115.3 million left on his contract, and the Warriors were willing to give Curry the one-year, $62.6 million extension he deserves. It would be a huge surprise if Curry eventually decided to play for an NBA team other than the Warriors, so it's still smart to bet that the two parties will come to an agreement in the future.

But for now, according to Slater, Curry will “step away from basketball for a few weeks” as the Warriors star takes a well-deserved break after leading the U.S. team to the gold medal in Paris.

Can the Warriors make the playoffs in 2025?

In some ways, the 2024-25 season will be a reboot for the Warriors. Franchise legend Klay Thompson is gone, and the Warriors have opted to replace him with two former Philadelphia 76ers shooting guards: De'Anthony Melton and Buddy Hield. They also used the freed-up money to sign Kyle Anderson – giving the Warriors the most depth they've had since winning the title in 2022.

In addition, the Warriors have a few young players who could make a real leap forward next season. Jonathan Kuminga is working hard in the lab and many fans are excited about his breakout potential. Brandin Podziemski is loved by the Warriors' leadership, and rightly so, as he is a selfless and smart player who could take on a bigger role in the offense now that Thompson is playing for the Dallas Mavericks. Perhaps even Moses Moody will make the next step.

The Dubs still have veterans Draymond Green and Andrew Wiggins, both of whom have the potential to rebound after their turbulent 2023-24 seasons.

It's easy to forget by now, but the Warriors started the 2023-24 season with promise before running into trouble mid-season due to a few issues, namely Green's on-court issues, Wiggins' drop-off in performance, and Thompson's inconsistency. But a little more depth could help offset the consistency issues, and the Warriors could well be in the top six in the West if their key players don't get injured.