The Charlotte Hornets help burst open the summer floodgates by shipping franchise star LaMelo Ball to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Is it now time to bring home Golden State Warriors star Steph Curry?
In recent years, the rumor mill has increasingly linked Curry to the Warriors. After all, the four-time NBA champion mostly grew up in Charlotte as his father, Dell Curry, was busy ripping 3-pointers for the Hornets. For many Hornets fans, it would just feel right for Curry to root the final chapter of his decorated career playing for the franchise he was often around as a child.
For Charlotte, it would certainly be a head-turning move to acquire a 38-year-old point guard in the same offseason they traded their 24-year-old point guard. But who would say no to Curry if he could be had?
Trade Idea With Warriors Sends Steph Curry Home
GettySAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 25: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors is guarded by KJ Simpson #25 of the Charlotte Hornets during the first half at Chase Center on February 25, 2025 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Curry may be slowly approaching age 39, but he may as well be 29. He is still elite and still capable of changing games with the flick of the wrist. Just how formidable the Hornets would be with Curry is worth questioning. Just how interesting Curry would be in joining the Hornets, who don’t appear to be in a position to contend for a championship, is certainly worth questioning.
But Hoops Habit’s Cal Durrett recently proposed a trade sending Curry to Charlotte in a deal involving six players.
Hornets receive: Steph Curry and De’Anthony Melton
Warriors receive: Naz Reid, Grayson Allen, Royce O’Neal, Dorian Finney-Smith and three first round picks.
Wrote Durrett: “The potential trade offer would see them ship out Naz Reid, Royce O’Neale, Grayson Allen, Dorian Finney-Smith, and three first-round picks for Curry and De’Anthony Melton.That might not be the return that Warriors fans would hope for, but it might be the most they could reasonably expect. Reid is an above-average starting power forward, while O’Neale and Allen are both good NBA players and reliable shooters. Golden State could keep Reid and look to re-trade O’Neal and Allen to the highest bidder. That would only increase their potential haul in a hypothetical Curry trade.”
Steph to Charlotte Does Have a Ring to it
After the Warriors’ 2025-26 season ended in the play-in tournament, NBA insider Kevin O’Conner reacted to a Curry interview, saying the two-time league MVP might have the Hornets somewhere in the back of his mind if he decided to depart from Golden State.
“I think that interview is just a little hint in the back of Stephen Curry’s mind, he’s thought if this doesn’t last forever in Golden State,” O’Conner said. And the Charlotte stuff has always been out there if he were ever to leave.”
Added O’Conner: “The Hornets are on the upswing. If there’s anywhere that you could argue they can improve, it’s finding someone more consistent than LaMelo, and perhaps Stephen Curry, despite being 14 years older, would be that guy.”
If Curry, who has an implicit no-trade clause in his contract, decided he wanted to leave the Warriors, he would likely have a legitimate title-contender at the top of his wishlist.
Curry is approaching 40 and knows he doesn’t have many more years left in the NBA. Unless being a Hornet at some points was always a goal, it is hard to see Curry landing in Charlotte before he hangs up his sneakers.
Warriors Proposed to Trade Steph Curry to Hometown Hornets for 4 Stars, 3 Picks