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Stephen Curry isn’t going anywhere

By Carlos Murillo

May 30, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) celebrates after scoring a three point basket against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the fourth quarter in game seven of the Western conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. The Golden State Warriors defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 96-88. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
May 30, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) celebrates after scoring a three point basket against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the fourth quarter in game seven of the Western conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. The Golden State Warriors defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 96-88. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /
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A report surfaced that teams would try to “poach” Stephen Curry if he can’t work with Kevin Durant. He’s not going anywhere.

The Golden State Warriors have quickly become everyone’s favorite team to hate.

It was like this last year, when they were blowing teams out and celebrating shots mid-flight. People waited all season long to watch them lose. And they did, in embarrassing fashion. They lost a 3-1 lead in the NBA Finals and lost Game 7 at home. Those bitter people rejoiced.

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But the celebration only lasted a few weeks as the Warriors got to work and replaced Harrison Barnes (who shot 5/32 in Games 5-7) with former-MVP Kevin Durant and became a clear-cut favorite to win next year’s title.

Since Durant announced his decision, fans and experts have been trying to find ways to discredit this team. First, suggesting that he made the wrong choice. Secondly, attacking Durant’s character, claiming that he has shown weakness; flaws that didn’t appear until he decided to leave.

Now, they’re trying to rationalize that this “super team” won’t work.

Not only will it not work, it will be Golden State’s undoing. The team that won the 2015 NBA championship and then followed it up by winning 73 regular season games in 2016 will fall apart by pairing the two-time MVP, Stephen Curry, with another top three player in the world.

Bleacher Report’s (and former Warriors sideline reporter) Ric Bucher secured an “exclusive” that says “a contender is planning to poach Steph Curry from Dubs if chemistry with Durant turns ‘poisonous.”

HOT TAKE ALERT!

This take is incendiary. A team hoping to win a championship would want to sign one of the best players in the entire Association? It almost doesn’t seem plausible.

I hate to break it to that title contender, but Steph Curry isn’t going anywhere.

There aren’t that many legitimate title contenders right now. Perhaps this report is referring to the San Antonio Spurs who would love bringing Curry to play with Kawhi Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge. The Spurs are in a transitional stage, moving on from the Tim Duncan era and, soon enough, the Tony Parker era as well.

Maybe it’s the Boston Celtics, but they aren’t really a title contender, still far behind the Cleveland Cavaliers. Speaking of the Cavs, imagine a Curry/LeBron James tandem. It’ll never happen, especially not in Cleveland, but it’s fun to think about. The Los Angeles Clippers could be in play if they move or lose Chris Paul. His hometown Charlotte Hornets will pursue him, but don’t have enough in place to lure him away.

But regardless of which team or teams it might be, the Warriors aren’t going to let him go.

In fairness, Curry is a free agent following next season and it’s not impossible that he would leave. But it’s also not likely and the report just seems silly. What team wouldn’t want him especially if he’s unhappy?

The report suggests that teams are waiting for it to go wrong. It’s more of a hope than a real concern grounded in anything concrete. It’s possible that’s going to go wrong, but not likely. Things go wrong when there’s a power struggle, but Durant’s willingness to sign with the Warriors and Curry’s pitch to him show that these guys are willing to work through whatever obstacles they may encounter.

Next: From Kwame to KD: How did we get here?

If it comes down to him and Durant, I don’t know who they’d choose. Durant is younger and, at his size, his game might age better. But Steph Curry is the Golden State Warriors. He is their champion, their franchise leader, their face. Joe Lacob and co. won’t just forget that and toss him off to the side.

And the two MVPs would have to get into a fist fight for Curry to consider leaving this perfect situation.

The two stars haven’t even taken the floor together yet and people are already reporting that it’s going to go bad. Relax. It seems like a reaction to people either being upset that he didn’t stay in Oklahoma City or being upset that their prediction was wrong. The word “poisonous” just seems so deliberate.

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