Ongoing Warriors contract negotiations once again will be the focus of media day

Ongoing Warriors contract negotiations once again will be the focus of media day originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Steph Curry has made his rounds through the media carwash. 

The message has been the same, whether it’s to us (NBC Sports Bay Area), ESPN, The Athletic, the San Francisco Chronicle, the San Francisco Standard, ABC 7, MSNBC and anybody else who has been there for a quote: Don’t worry about when he signs his contract extension. 

Curry says he wants to be with the Warriors for the rest of his career, and he will be. He couldn’t be clearer there. As he enters Year 18, all with the Warriors, Curry is yet to ever be a free agent. Waiting to put pen to paper with one year left on his current contract, Curry stated he doesn’t want to go through free agency next offseason. 

Even if he technically becomes a free agent, Curry, according to him, will still be wearing a Warriors jersey. 

Curry is speaking with more conviction each time he talks to the press. His hope has to be that the noise will come to a halt after making his intentions as obvious as can be. He doesn’t want any drama, and he’s equipped to avoid it. 

And Curry also has to know that, barring a change, there still will be more questions about his unsigned contract Monday at Warriors Media Day. 

When they do come, Curry probably will give the same answers he has continued to give. That is, if he’s asked the same questions he has been asked. Then we will hear about how he’s not going anywhere and wants to retire as a Warrior. All that would be is Curry regurgitating the same words he has always said. 

The most noteworthy comments he has made regarding his contract extension were to ESPN’s Anthony Slater when Curry said, “All the different salary cap conditions of whether I sign for a max or less or whatever it is, I want to be on a competitive team. I want to have an opportunity to have some flexibility because we haven’t had that in years past, the recent past. … This team should have flexibility to make necessary moves if things happen. Those are always just the considerations. For me, information and patience is key.” 

Curry is the NBA’s highest-paid player at $62.59 million for the 2026-27 season. The 38-year-old, who will be 39 in March, is eligible for a two-year, $136.7 million max contract extension. He has until June 30 to sign. 

The Warriors are projected to have over $100 million in salary cap space next offseason with a handful of expiring contracts coming off their books. Curry signing another max contract would significantly cut into the Warriors’ salary cap space. An acknowledgement that he’s thinking at all about taking less should spark everyone’s attention as Curry still seeks a fifth championship ring. 

But Curry knows, if a contract isn’t somehow signed by Monday, more questions are coming at media day. Maybe not as many as Brandin Podziemski will get, though. 

Podziemski has until Oct. 19 at 3 p.m. PT to sign a rookie contract extension. Failing to do so would make him a restricted free agent next offseason. For a number of reasons, Podziemski finds himself in a much more interesting place than Curry. 

This offseason, a growing list of players from his 2023 draft class have signed their rookie extensions. Victor Wembanyama signed for five years and $255.2 million. Amen Thompson signed a five-year, $208 million contract, and his twin, Ausar, signed for five years and $155 million. Keyonte George, taken three picks ahead of Podziemski, also was given five years and $155 million from the Utah Jazz. 

Pinpointing exactly where Podziemski is placed in dollar figures isn’t an easy exercise as a unique player whose best qualities are his ability to be a connector. Toumani Camara, the No. 52 pick in the 2023 draft, signed a four-year, $81 million contract extension with the Portland Trail Blazers last offseason. Podziemski’s contract likely will come much closer to Camara than the four players above. 

Peyton Watson’s four-year, $88 million contract he inked this summer is another to look at in terms of Podziemski’s next deal. What if Podziemski believes he deserves something more like Ayo Dosunmu’s five-year, $112 million contract he signed in July? 

Then Podziemski’s best route might be betting on himself to have a money-making Year 4 leap while the Warriors continue to preach their optionality. 

Draymond Green playing on a one-year contract will be a talking point, too. The same can be said if Jimmy Butler speaks. Kristaps Porziņģis might also field some questions about his contract as well. Just not to the level of Curry and Podziemski. 

Last year’s media day can only be described as bizarre. The Warriors were held up all offseason by Jonathan Kuminga’s restricted free agency. He remained unsigned, as did a few other Warriors who were waiting on Kuminga. The vibe shift will be felt, and some similar questions will be asked. 

Whether the Warriors like it or not, contract talks again can’t be ignored this year.

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