Stephen Curry is officially extension-eligible as of Saturday, with an expectation that the Golden State Warriors and their franchise superstar will come to terms on a new deal.
Curry is eligible to sign a two-year, $136.7 million extension with the Warriors, but taking a significant discount is the obvious move to make if the 38-year-old wants to try and save whatever hope he has left of winning another championship with the franchise.
Stephen Curry's contract sacrifice could save Warriors' title hopes
Curry would be well within his rights to sign the maximum number possible, such is his stature at the franchise, the immense value he brings to them off the court, and the fact he's still arguably a top 10 player in the league when healthy.
But the Warriors project to have max cap space next summer where they could completely rebuild their team and try to return to championship contention. They could have even more cap space and flexibility if Curry takes a discount, leaving it as something he should seriously consider after just seeing LeBron James head to the Philadelphia 76ers on a two-year, $7.9 million contract.
Curry can't take a minimum contract like James unless he waited all the way until free agency. While that would obviously be an ideal outcome for Golden State, it would also invite plenty of speculation over Curry's future until that point, while opening up the pathway for him to depart especially if the season doesn't go as planned.
Instead, CBA rules dictate that Curry can take 40% less than his current $62.6 million salary -- approximately $37.5 million. That would be a significant discount from the max and give the Warriors more flexibility, while also silencing any speculation over Curry's future at the franchise.
Warriors could open up $100 million in cap space with Curry discount
If Curry took the maximum possible discount now, and if the Warriors took the $3 million cap hit rather than guaranteeing Kristaps Porzingis' $20 million contract, they'd be left with less than $80 million on the books, and even less if Al Horford and/or De'Anthony Melton declined their player options.
That would leave a lot to go out and spend in free agency next year, assuming they don't use the expiring contracts of Jimmy Butler and/or Draymond Green to make big moves beforehand at February's mid-season deadline.
Either way, Curry taking a discount would be incredibly beneficial to the Warriors' plans of revitalizing their roster, and to giving the two-time MVP at least one more opportunity at another championship.
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